31 May 2007 The Australian Communications and Media Authority is seeking comment on proposals to vary transmitter sites for three radio services in the Innisfail region of Queensland. The full release can be found here

31 May 2007 The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that Lambing Flat Community Broadcasting Inc, the licensee of community radio station 2YYY Young, failed to encourage members of the community it serves to participate in the operations and programming of the service. The full release can be found here

28 May 2007 Is Eddie McGuire interested in more than just a passing interest of a certain radio station and we don't mean calling the Football? Expect more on this over the next week.

27 May 2007 4BC producer Jade Jones returns to the other side of the studio next week. Jade has joined 91.9 Sea FM breakfast.

26 May 2007 Is private equity group Iron Bridge Capital looking at Singos Macquarie radio next?

25 May 2007

25 May 2007 Traffic guru 'Chopper Dave' Andrews of Brisbane's B105 is recovering from open heart surgery. Dave has had his aortic valve replaced. With rehab he will most likely be back at work inside the next four or so weeks.

24 May 2007 With 3AW's Derryn Hinch rumoured to be battling a further health set back Peter Maher is keeping the seat warm for all of this week at least.

24 May 2007 Who is the serial pest constantly phoning a regional radio station wanting to know various segments of the line-up. What a wonderful thing caller i.d is!

23 May 2007 Has all trace of the website dedicated to the bumblings of a certain afternoon talk announcer vanished. Seek and you shall find! The material really is free flowing so we fully understand the inspiration!

21 May 2007 Which Big Brother 2007 house mate wanna be has already been circled as a possible FM gimmick jock? Please spare us the agony!

21 May 2007 Could Greg Victor be the new 4BH breakfast host replacing Kim Mothershaw?

18 May 2007 Dayle Richardson is the new PD at 5MU/PowerFM. Dayle will continue in his on air role at Powe FM.

18 May 2007 Was that caller who called the 3AW Rumour file suggesting Eddie McGuire was set to announce he was quitting the top job at Channel 9. leaked the info from indide the 3AW bunker?

18 May 2007 Movement at Fiveaa in the newsroom with Caroline Hillman quitting the station. Caroline has Joined the office of federal MP Kate Ellis

16 May 2007 Recent fill in with a Perth breakfast team impressed listeners and management alike. Having said that the station is happy with their current team.

15 May 2007 Mike (ex fm103.2 Sydney)and Amy Rayson's son Sam passed away overnight in the USA due to medical complications after being kicked by a horse.Mike is currently working as a Church Minister in the US.

13 May 2007 Who is the AM " floater" being eyed by an FM er?12 May 2007 Who is the Sydney based breakfast radio person who is often seen entering and leaving a notorious park in the wee small hours?

11 May 2007 Just how did the new book celebrating 75 years of 3AW make it to a certain popular weekend market so quickly and so cheaply? Priced to sell at a 'hot' price, the shady character off loaded them quicker than 3AK changed presenters!

08 May 2007 Pint size compere of It Takes Two Grant Denyer has upset many people today with a comment made during a guest spot on Nova's Merrick and Rosso program. Asked how he felt after partying hard post Logies Denyer replied "Let me say I'm feeling like I had sex with a black man right now," Aboriginal leader Mick Mundine said he was upset by it and NSW Anti-Discrimination Board president Stephen Kerkyasharian said the comment was stupid.

07 May 2007 Mark Irvine is now doing 3MP evenings in place of Peter O'Callaghan who has moved to mornings.

06 May 2007 Radio rumours scout on the red carpet at tonights TV Week Logie awards reports Triple M breakfast co-host Brigitte Duclos will go down as one of the worst dressed at this years event. He desribes her red shiney gown as 'borrowed'!

06 May 2007 Lot's of industry speculation that SEN are in for a rude shock in Tuesday's ratings. Whilst it could be argued it's early day's the word is the cost of football versus revenue put's them on borrowed time. That is not to say there is a shortage of ads on SEN. This will be the most important survey to SEN since their launch in 2004! Good luck!

06 May 2007 Billy from Billy & Mindy breakfast Star FM Goulburn Valley did his last shift on Saturday morning announcing he was off overseas.

06 May 2007 Magic 1278 breakfast (Andrew and Anne) welcome John Michael Howson as a regular contributor from this week. John Michael will present show business gossip from around 8.20 every Tuesday morning. 05 May 2007 Tim Arnold is now part of the Em and Wippa breakfast program on Perth's 92.9 FM. Of course we know Tim from Nova 100 nights.05 May 2007 3MP's Peter O'Callaghan will be covering the recently departed Jane Holmes shift from Monday morning.

03 May 2007 This month one of the great survivors of radio celebrates 50 years in the industry. Keith McGowan long time host of Melbourne Overnighters on 3AW, started in radio at 3UZ in 1957. Prior to joining 3AW in 1990 he presented the same Overnighters program on 3AK having joined 3AK from 3DB breakfast. (although there was a brief stint at 3GL after 3DB prior to 3AK)

03 May 2007 Will 3MP air that classic Slade Gudby T Jane (Good bye to Jane) track tomorrow? It is Jane Holmes last day at 3MP having joined 3AW. For those who don't know, Jane is the voice you hear anytime you contact Telstra or use your Mobile messagebank.

03 May 2007 Names being mentioned for mornings on 3MP include Steve Murphy (2CH) and Jo Spargo (ABC Gippsland and third generation announcer).

02 May 2007 Who are the drive team who do not talk to each other outside of the studio?

02 May 2007 Could there be a PD exiting via the side door shortly at a Perth FM station?

02 May 2007 Kate Cebrano has won the latest series of Dancing With The Stars beating Triple M's Fifi Box.

02 May 2007 Margaret Campion's long awaited book celebrating 75 years of 3AW is now available for pre-order.View it here

01 May 2007 Kevin Rudd will be special guest on Brisbane's B105 breakfast this Thursday morning. He will be asked to sign an agreement that if he wins the election later this year he will return to the program as Prime Minister.

01 May 2007 Much has been written recently about who are the longest serving breakfast team on radio around the nation. Geelong's Bay FM team of Laurie and Paula have survived the distance of not only time but various music format changes along the the way as well.

01 May 2007 Ace Radio Network Nightline program is being covered by Anthony Keirce (ex 3BA) via 2AY in Albury who is filling in for Mark Watson.

Watch out Triple J radio announcers. Eliza Grogan and Anna Bennet of The J just could be about to knock you off your on-air perch. At least around the northern end of the Sunshine Coast. Whereas Triple J's afternoon schlock jocks look well into their 20s, the latest stars of Noosa Community Radio 101.3FM are yet to enter their teens. Full story Sunshine Coast Daily

29 Apr 2007 You never know who is listening to the radio. During last Friday's Ernie Sigley program on 3AW during the Friday lunch segment the topic got onto the Smiley movies from the 1950's. Out of the blue a talkback caller named Margaret rang in. Margaret just happened to be veteran actress Margaret Christensen who played Smiley's mother, Ma Greevins, in the two movies.

29 Apr 2007 Who is the well known Perth radio newsreader moonlighting doing the late night sex/chat ads reads on TV?

28 Apr 2007 With Rabbit and Amber now filling her former spot as co -host of SA FM breakfast Milly, aka Lisa Millard, has joined Triple M's Paul Murray program.

28 Apr 2007 On Friday B105 breakfast co-host Camilla Severi announced to the world, more so her listening audience, she is expecting a baby in November.

28 Apr 2007 Long-time breakfast announcer is set to end his most recent gig in the next copule of weeks prompting a move to an afternoon shift. More to come on this one. 26 Apr 2007 Steve Curtis is filling in for Ward Everaardt for 2 weeks on Magic 1278 [from Monday 30th]

26 Apr 2007 Jane Holmes has quit 3MP to move to 3AW to replace the retiring Rosemary Margan who did live reads on Neil Mitchell's program. See below25 Apr 2007 Who may be once again gracing the doorstep of the radio station of where their career begun in Melbourne in the 1980's?

25 Apr 2007 Nova drive co-presenter Kate Ritchie is set to join Grant Denyer as co-host of the new series of It Takes Two.

25 Apr 2007 Just what was discussed between John Laws and Kevin Rudd as they lunched together at a Woolloomooloo restaurant yesterday? Can we expect John Howard and Laws to catch up in a similar fashion soon, if so what will the topic be, retirement perhaps?

24 Apr 2007 More movement at K-Rock Geelong with Josh Batters making the the move to Sun FM Alice Springs. Josh will present the Hot 30 countdown as well as cover Mornings from 10 until 2.00pm.

18 Apr 2007 Power FM / 5MU Program Director Stuart Endersby has landed the role of PD at Adelaide's MIX 1O2.3. MIX had searched far and wide across Australia and New Zealand finally settling on the Murray Bridge based Endersby.

17 Apr 2007 Dan Veling has resigned from his role as MD at Geelong's K Rock. On May 9 Dan jets off to live in the UK.

16 Apr With WS FM's Jono Coleman away from the mic for a few days this week Andrew O'Keefe co-hosted The Jonathan Coleman Experience today. Andrew presented the program with regular co-host Julia Zemiro.

12 Apr 2007 Is Ernie Sigley serious? Word suggests he is after extra dosh to be seen on the recently installed Southern Cross webcam!

11 Apr 2007 Neil Mitchell clocks up 20 years at 3AW this week. The morning presenter who took over from Murray Nichol in that slot first joined the station doing drive although if the memory bank serves us correctly their were brief stints on weekend breakfast first.

10 Apr 2007 With FOX FM's Jo Stanely set to be part of the latest series of Channel 7's It Takes Two could her FOX co-host Matt Tilley be about to take to the TV screens with a revamped version of Channel 9's Surprise Surprise?27 Mar 2007Â Survey 2 of the radio ratings have been released. Check the links below.

24 Mar 2007. Nova's Dave HughesÂ will be a regular member ofÂ channel 10's ROVE when the program returns on April 1.Â

23 Mar 2007. 3AW proved why it plays such a pivotal role in the Melbourne media this morning. With in minutes of the tragedy happening in the Burnley tunnel programming swung into full coverage of the event. From just after 10.00am AW dedicated their morning program with informative updates of the shocking breaking news.

22 Mar 2007. Kate Langbroek returns to the NOVA 100 breakfast program this coming Monday. Word is Peter Helliar who has been keeping her seat warmÂ will become a regular part of the team.

21 Mar 2007. It has been reported 3MP's John Burgess was told by a Physic he would return to Melbourne radio. Burgo must of doubted them after shopping himself around the Perth market prior to heading to 'MP.

20 Mar 2006. Expect Austereo's Hamish and Andy to take part in this years Logie awards, possibly in the form of presenting interviews from the Greenroom.

18 Mar 2006. Foot in mouth to 3AW's weekend overnight presenter Alan Pearsal who went to great lengths to explain the Australian public would not cop a 'rich' Prime Minister i e Malcolm Turnball. His conclusion was Kevin Rudd was the only man for the job. Memo to Alan, the Rudd's are far from short of a quid.

17 Mar 2007. From nzherald.co.nz: "Newstalk ZB has announced Paul Holmes will quit the breakfast show he has presented for 20 years at the end of 2008. He will then hand over the breakfast reins to his deputy, Mike Hosking, but will stay with the station focusing on a new show scheduled to air on Saturday mornings from 9.00am to noon until 2011."Â Â

17 Mar 2007. Poor old Peter Tarnawski. First 3MP took months and months to put his pic up on their former website, alas it eventually arrived. Pete naturally was right up there with the rest of the crew when MP updated their site last year. We have the opposite now with Pete having departed the station some months agoÂ although his pic and name are still gracing the evening time-slot. here

17 Mar 2007. 2DAY FM'sÂ Kyle 'pinch me am I dreaming' Sandilands is set to be disqualified from driving over his little incident last week. As reported here Sandilands copped a $590.00 fine for doing 100Km in a 60km zone. Once he pays the fine and it is processed he will disqualified from driving a car for 3 months.

16 Mar 2007. Derryn Hinch fresh from a day away from the mic returned to air today with an editorial reminiscent of days gone by. He launched a verbal attack on Wendy Pierce wife of slain underworld figure Victor Pierce. Read it

15 Mar 2007. Could another head be about to roll over last weeksÂ outing of Anthony Callea on Sydney's 96.1? Alisson Longhurst, the producer who sent the audio to Sydney Confidential has already been sacked.

14Â Mar 2007.Â With Greg Evans set to become a Marriage Celebrant it lends itself to think that if he still hosted Perfect Match and still owned the reception/restaurant venueÂ (which the name of it escapes me) he could have provided a package deal!

13 Mar 2007.Â Â 1116 SEN put a news report to air late Monday (March 12) that Fitzroy football legend Kevin Murray had died. They forgot to do one thing - check the report and verify the facts. The very-much-alive Kevin Murray is checking with his lawyers - could be a costly mistake.

13 Mar 2007.Â Was that really a recentÂ Robbie Williams track being played on GOLD 1043 this morning?

11 Mar 2007.Â Â Steve King 3SR News Journo and host of "Playing to win" sport show is heading to Krock in Geelong

10 Mar 2007.3MP's Peter Ocallaghan Â is heading upÂ the tour of a lifetime for die-hard Elvis fans. With the 30th anniversary of Elvis's death falling in August this year you have a chance to join in what will be a fantastic event. Full details can be found here at www.elvistours.com.au

10 Mar 2007.Impressionable young ears listening to the breakfast showÂ 2DAY FM on Friday morning heard Kyle 'pinch me am I dreaming' Sandilands launch a verbal spray at the NSW Highway Patrol. Sandilands was pulled over and finedÂ $590.00 with a loss of four pointsÂ for doing 100km in a 60km zone. NSW police are rumoured to be seeking a public apology on Mondays program.

Â 07Â Mar 2007.Â Â Regular guest and co host of Triple M's Get This Greg Fleet is in rehab. Fleet is determined to kick his dependence once and for all.Â

04 Mar 2007.Possibly in hast to get their story on Derryn Hinch health woes out The Australian tonight has wrongly reported he is suffering from a brain tumour. Here is the link

02 Mar 2007.After just over 6 years LisaÂ Herbert isÂ leavingÂ DMG where she is currentlyÂ News Director at NOVAÂ 106.9.Â Lisa has landed a role with Channel 7's Sunrise programÂ and will take on a role as entertainment producer.

01 Mar 2007Â With clean up Australia day upon us this Sunday 4th March there will be an abundance of radio people out doing their bit. Hobart's HO FM breakfast team Tori and Phil will be at Pembroke Park in Sorell, a site voted for by listeners. They are all set to 'clean up this great country.

In 2007 John Laws is considered by some people to have overstayed by a couple of years.

In 2003 Laws should have hung up the golden microphone. He had nothing left to prove and could have walked away with the 'radio legend folklore' intact.

Industry insiders say Laws is well aware that his ratings reign is over and is hanging on to a trump card that his program generates more income for 2UE than any other on the station. (via it's advertising and networking)

Radiorumours also asks how deep is the rift (what rift?) between 2UE management and John Laws?

The Laws should have walked views are shared by 2GB's Ray Hadley and the following story from The Bulletin gives an interesting insight.

Commercial radio broadcasters today announced they will adopt the new DAB+ standard for the implementation of digital radio in Australia.Â DAB+ is the new standard for the Eureka 147 platform using advanced audio codec (AAC+).Â It was officially approved by international standards body ETSI in February.

The chief executive officer of industry body Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said DAB+ would provide a better digital radio experience for listeners.

â€œWe have been very active in supporting the international development of DAB+ because it means Australia will be able to adopt the latest, most spectrum efficient technology in the world for the roll out of our digital radio services,â€ Ms Warner said.

DAB+ is two to three times more efficient than the original Eureka 147 standard which uses the MPEG Audio Layer II coding.Â This means radio stations will have more choice in how they use their allocated bandwidth.

â€œDAB+ offers much more efficient compression, which means more stations can be broadcast on a multiplex, resulting in lower per station transmission costs,â€ Ms Warner said.

â€œIt also means each broadcaster will now have the ability to deliver either superior audio quality, split their signal to offer two or three audio channels, or broadcast a combination of better than FM quality sound plus lots of associated data such as text or images.Â Whichever way stations choose to implement digital radio, the result will be a better service for listeners and advertisers.â€

Ms Warner said commercial radio was continuing to work with the ABC and SBS Radio to test the DAB+ standard in Australia and to ensure there will be no transmission or other technical issues.Â The industry is also working with overseas broadcasters and receiver and chip manufacturers on the development of new DAB+ receivers.

DAB+ services and receivers are expected to be rolled out in a number of countries where digital radio is currently in trial phase, which potentially includes the Netherlands, Malta, New Zealand, India and China.

â€œWe want to encourage the availability of a wide range of affordable digital radio receivers with new features such as picture capability,â€ Ms Warner said.Â â€œSome leading manufacturers have told us that they expect to start shipping DAB+ radios later this year.â€The Federal Government is currently drafting digital radio legislation and has set a launch date of 1 January 2009 for the launch of digital radio services in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart.Â The commercial radio industry is planning for a phased rollout across the rest of Australia to follow

Metropolitan commercial radio stations experienced a stronger advertising market in February, with ad revenue up by seven percent compared with the same month in 2006.Â PriceWaterhouseCoopers Radio Revenue Performance figures released today show radio stations in the five capital city markets earned $44.2 million in advertising revenue in February 2007, compared with $41.3 million a year ago.

â€œRadio stations in all five markets experienced growth in the month of February, with Adelaide and Perth leading the growth,â€ said Commercial Radio Australia chief executive Joan Warner.

THE Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has stepped up a protracted investigation into the trading practices of Nielsen Media Research, issuing a section 155 notice requesting more information on how the company structures and sells it media monitoring and analysis services. Read the entire story from The Sydney Morning Herald Here.

Perth radio identity Bob Maumill has come out in support of his longtime friend disgraced former WA Premier Brain Burke. Bob Maumill, who has been a friend of Mr Burke for decades, today said people and businesses came to him because he knew how to get results."They knock on Burke's door, or Grill's door, out of frustration," Mr Maumill told ABC Radio.

Mr Maumill said he accepted Mr Burke had gone too far and cut too many corners in some cases.

But he said his brand of patronage was widespread throughout Australian politics.

"Yeah, but tell me a political party that doesn't do it," he said.

"The major political parties in Australia, careers are born of patronage."

On average, up to 20 per cent of people (or around 2.24 million people per quarter hour) in metropolitan Australia are listening to commercial radio during breakfast â€“ according to figures released today by Commercial Radio Australia.Â

The same figures show that in comparison, only four per cent or around 623,000 people are watching breakfast commercial television in metropolitan areas.

The analysis of Nielsen Media radio surveys 1-8 2006 and OzTAM TV surveys for the same timeframe, shows that commercial radio on average reaches over four times more people than commercial TV in metropolitan areas nationally for the three hours from 6am to 9am.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) intend to facilitate the flow of information between the two agencies during media merger investigations in a way that protects confidential information while helping to ensure that each agencyâ€™s investigations are fully effective, the Chairman of the ACCC, Mr Graeme Samuel, and the Chairman of ACMA, Mr Chris Chapman, said today.

In particular, the ACCC and ACMA will ask parties involved in a media merger who provide confidential information to either agency to agree to that information being provided to the other agency. This will allow the ACCC and ACMA to share this information with each other in a transparent and more efficient way, Mr Samuel and Mr Chapman said.

3AW's Derryn Hinch is suffering from cirrhosis of the liver and he has a growth on his liver that may be cancerous. Hinch has revealed that he felt shame in the fact that he has what is commonly known as the drunks disease has not up until now revealed exactly what his illness was.

Hinch has admitted to drinking up to four bottles of wine on a daily basis over many years and although he has not had a drink for over six months now he would only ever have a drink again if he received news that his condition was terminal. Further to that if he did receive news to that end he has decided he will take his own life.

3AW's drive presenter Derryn Hinch is set to reveal to cause of his illnessÂ that kept him off air for extended periods in 2006.Â

This coming Sunday Channel Nine will feature Derryn who will be interviewed by reporter Tara Brown.Â According to reports coming out of the 60 Minutes camp they say 'Derryn Hinch is finally ready to reveal the truth about the disease that could very well kill him.'

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that Harbour Radio Pty Ltd, the licensee of commercial radio service 2GB Sydney, breached the Commercial Radio Codes of Practice 2004, by presenting material in a misleading manner by giving improper emphasis to the material and by editing that material out of context.

ACMA received two complaints from the Baulkham Hills Shire Council relating to the Mornings program hosted by Ray Hadley. The complaints concerned the presenterâ€™s repeated broadcast of an excerpt of a Council â€˜question time recordingâ€™ in which the Mayor of Baulkham Hills Shire Council is heard addressing a fellow councillor.

28 Feb 2007.Former Big Brother housemate Rachel Corbett is filling in on Perth's 92.9 FM with the breakfast team while Em is away.

28 Feb 2007 Veteran 6IX announcer Brian Lehman will now take on the role of PD as well as his current on air duties.

28 Feb 2007.Magic 1278's recently semi retired Bill Howie has gone back to school, Uni to be exact, as a mature age student. Bill has not quit radio entirely, he now looks after Magic's Sunday mornings.

28 Feb 2007 Conflicting reports of when Melbourne's 3DB actually first went to air. Some sources suggest 19th Feb 1927 whilst others believe it to be today (28TH). Regardless the old girl would have been 80 years old this month. Happy Birthday 3DB.

28 Feb 2007 An emotional Ernie Sigley broke down in tears today while introducing his tribute to Billy Thorpe on his 3AW afternoon program. It was a 'take two' for Ernie who paid tribute to Thorpe by replaying an interview from a couple of years back.

28 Feb 2007. Today tributes have been paid towards rock legend Billy Thorpe who sadly passed away from a heart attack early this morning. One Melbourne FM breakfast presenter must be suffering from a bad case of foot in mouth after adding his bit on air about Thorpe. The presenter in question seriously thought Thorpe would only ever be remembered for the 1970's signature 'Most people I know think that I'm crazy' and was amazed he never got tired of performing his one big hit!' What made his statement worse was none of the other presenters took him to task on it.

Elsewhere across the FM dial GOLD 1043 delivered a fantastic mix of 'live' Thorpe classics and tributes in their drive program. Well worth the listen and well done GOLD.

27 Feb 2007.Well done to Stereo 974 for keeping radio rumors on their link page for the last three and a half years. At least someone had faith the site would return!

A 30 second ad promoting a bungee jump ride, which was recorded live, has won the single and overall categories for round four of this yearâ€™s Siren Awards.Â The ad, called F...k, was written for the company Bungee West, by Matt Dickson from Nova 93.7 in Perth.

Judges and previous round winners, Ant Keough and Grant Rutherford said the ad won the category because of its simplicity and truth. â€˜The Bungee West â€œFâ€¦kâ€ ad, out of all the spots, was the funniest, most insightful and bang on strategy,â€™ said Grant Rutherford.

Pacific Star Network, parent company of Melbourne radio stations 1116 SEN and 1377 3MP has welcomed MR GEORGE BUSCHMAN to the Board of Directors, while MR BARRIE QUICK has been appointed the new title, Chief Executive Officer.

Mr Buschman initially joined Pacific Star as a consultant in November 2005 to oversee the integration of the SEN radio business with that of 3MP and continues to assist the company with strategic advice, programming, and recruitment.

Andrew Moffatt, Chairman Pacific Star Network, said 'With the AFL season approaching, this appointment adds to the strong calibre and experience of the existing Board and provides seasoned radio industry experience to support our continuing push to drive ratings and revenue for the benefit of shareholders.'

Hot 91FM breakfast presenter Jamie Dunn returned from a morning walk yesterday to find his house was on fire. While walking up his street he spotted the Fire Engines, Police and ambo's thinking to himselfÂ it was actually his neighbours home that had smoke pouring out of it.

As he got closer he realised it was his house and the fire had been started by his 7 year old daughter who had been playing with matches.

Macquarie Radio Network Ltd says it has had some informal talks with various parties concerning ownership of the company in the past six months.

"There have been some informal discussions with various parties, but not in a way that ever progressed anywhere," Macquarie Radio chairman Max Donnelly told journalists after the release of the company's first half results.

Mr Donnelly said he was not aware of whether the talks involved private equity groups.

"I'm not aware of any discussions (with private equity)," he said. The operator of Sydney radio stations 2GB and 2CH said it had appointed corporate advisers, Baron Partners Ltd, to look into possible corporate transaction opportunities ahead of the introduction of new media ownership laws.

Adelaide's 5MMM is our featured station. Part of the Austereo Triple M network the station was once known as KAFM, following 1179 5KA converting to the FM band. Although the station nearly missed out on being part of the Triple M family with the 5MMM callsign belonging to a local community station at the time of Village Roadshow purchasing the station in 1993.

These days the 5MMM on air team include John Blackman and Jane Riley, Sean Craig Murphy, Tony Martin, Spoonman amongst others http://www.mytriplem.com.au/

EX-Swans and Crows player Ryan Fitzgerald became the latest player involved in the AFL betting scandal, saying on his Nova 919 breakfast show he had bet on football while playing.

“I’m going to admit to you now â€“ I did it, when I was playing AFL. I bet against other teams. Not the team I was playing for, but I bet.”

Fitzgerald said he didn’t see a problem with players betting, provided it wasn’t on their club.

“Personally I think you can bet on other games, like I said, one player doesn’t change one thing.”

“(But) if you get busted betting on your team or against, especially against your team, that’s when you should be getting the hefty fines.”

The revelation comes on the back of an exclusive story in today’s Advertiser that several leading Crows players may be dragged into the AFL betting scandal.

The AFL is investigating a suspected syndicate wager Adelaide club champion Simon Goodwin made last season.

AFL investigators, led by former Victorian assistant police commissioner Allan Roberts, this week will ask Goodwin if a bet involving thousands of dollars was for a group of current and former Crows players.

If the league can substantiate this suspicion, the AFL betting scandal that has embarrassed four clubs will put several Crows at risk of suspension.

Their concern over the largest bet on Goodwin’s account is whether it was for a long-running syndicate of current and retired Crows players who regularly gamble, particularly on horse racing.

This Sunday 3AW’s Remember When programÂ feature various formerÂ presenters to kick off their 75 years of broadcasting celebrations. John Blackman, Muriel Cooper, Mark Day and Derryn Hinch are amongst those who will recallÂ their time at the station.

No doubt a good idea to run a tape over the program just in case there are any surprise snippets.

One wonders if the forgotten post breakfast program, (prior to the arrival of Ross Stevenson and co from 3AK) UPFRONT will be remembered? It was hosted by Barry Everingham, Bill Tuckey and Wanda Kingston and was an attempt to recapture the magic created on air years earlier by Norman Banks, Claudia Wright and Ormsby Wilkins.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has allocated a transmitter licence to ANC International Holdings Pty Ltd to provide a high powered open narrowcasting radio service in Canberra, ACT. The proposed service will operate on 1323 kHz on the AM band.

ANC International Holdings Pty Ltd bid $200,000 at an auction on 8 December 2006 after four applications were received for the licence.

â€˜The people of Canberra can look forward to the introduction of an additional open narrowcasting radio service in the near future,’ said Mr Giles Tanner , General Manager of ACMA’s Inputs to Industry Division.

ANC International Holdings Pty Ltd has paid the full amount owing for the licence after completing a form of acknowledgment which sets out the rights and obligations of the applicant in relation to the licence.

ANC International Holdings Pty Ltd must commence the new service by 21 June 2007, or such longer period of time as approved in writing by ACMA.

This month sees 3AW celebrate 75 years of broadcasting along with 2CH. Former Melbourne station 3DB would have reached the magical 80 year milestone on the 19th of February. Of course the licence of 3DB is still broadcasting today asÂ MIX 101.1 (3TT FM) although it is highly unlikely MIX will acknowledge the event.

From The Age today they report the latest developments surrounding the buyout of APN ( AUSTRALIAN RADIO NETWORK) by Independent News & Media. Full story follows:

VINTAGE director Ted Harris had time for one champagne on Sunday night to celebrate the increased offer he secured for APN News & Media, before hurrying home to watch the cricket.

But APN’s deputy chairman and head of the independent committee assessing the $3.8 billion bid from a consortium led by its major shareholder, Independent News & Media, may have popped the cork too soon.

John Sevior, head of equities at Perpetual Investments, which owns almost 15 per cent of APN, believes the revised $6.10-a-share offer is too low.

“On the basis of what’s out there, I don’t think the independent directors have done a flash job for shareholders,” Mr Sevior told The Age.

“This is a bid for full control of the company and (the consortium) are not paying a price that reflects that, especially given APN’s earnings profile.”

Mr Harris, for his part, believes he has secured a good price. He is quick to point out that before the consortium first approached the company last October, its shares were trading at $5.43.

Twice during the week he rebuffed the consortium, which is made up of Independent, Providence Equity Partners and Carlyle Group, before finally agreeing to recommend an offer of $6.10 a share over the weekend. (He rejected two offers of $6.05 and $6.08 on Tuesday and Wednesday.) After the second rebuff, he says the negotiations, which were being led on the other side by Tony O’Reilly’s son Gavin, almost broke down.

“My principle concern is that shareholders understand, if this offer is not voted by shareholders as acceptable, the price will fall away appreciably,” Mr Harris said yesterday.

Shares in APN closed down 7Â¢ at $5.98 yesterday as investors do believe there is a risk the offer will not pass a shareholder vote.

Under the proposed deal, Independent would reduce its holding in APN from more than 40 per cent to 35 per cent, taking up to $600 million off the table. Providence and Carlyle would own 37.5 per cent and 27.5 per cent respectively. The management team, including chief executive Brendan Hopkins, would be retained. Mr Harris said there had been no discussion of the make-up of the new board.

APN has agreed to pay the consortium a break fee of $27.5 million if it recommends or solicits another offer. But that is unlikely, as Independent has indicated it will not sell its shares into another offer.

APN publishes 24 daily newspapers including The New Zealand Herald and more than 90 non-daily titles.

It also owns 12 metropolitan radio stations in Australia, broadcasting the Mix and Classic Hits networks.

The company, which reports its results next week, said it estimated its 2006 earnings before interest, tax and depreciation would be $348 million, although that figure is unaudited.

This week Sydney’s 2CH will celebrate 75 years of broadcasting. The station which has a long connection to the Council of Churches first went to air in February 1932. The station derived their name from Church (2CH) In 1989 2CH was sold by the Churches to businessman John Singleton who has allowed them to continue to have an imput to the station. 2CH is sister ststion to 2GB

In 2007 2CH is an easy listening format and boasts the legendary Bob Rogers amongst their on air talent. Happy birthday ‘2CH and here is to the next 75 yeears.

The winner of the 2007 Siren Awards for creative excellence in radio advertising will be announced at a gala breakfast in Melbourne on May 4 featuring renowned Australian comedy duo and top-rating radio personalities, Hamish and Andy.

Hamish and Andy, who began their careers on radio in Melbourne at Fox FM, now host a nationally syndicated drive time show on the Today Network. The duo will host the breakfast and also speak at the Sirens Masterclass, a creative seminar directly following the breakfast.

The Masterclass will also feature Dr Rebecca Huntley, a researcher and author with ten years experience in publishing, academia and politics, who recently published a book, The World According to Y: Inside the New Adult Generation. Huntley, who is also the Director of Research and author of the Ipsos Mackay Report, will talk about Generation Y and how to engage them.

Cannes Radio Lions judge for this year and creator of the award-winning Australian radio brand campaign, Ralph van Dijk of Eardrum Australia, will also talk at the Masterclass and run several interactive sessions on how to write world-class radio ads.Â More high-profile speakers will be announced soon.

Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said the annual Sirens breakfast and Masterclass provided a great opportunity to recognise the excellence in Australian radio advertising and also look at ways to further improve it.

As an industry we have tried to be creative in our own advertising campaign â€“ recently launching the latest series of ads which feature one of the worldâ€™s funniest men, John Cleese. It is important to keep looking at radio creative, recognise its strengths and also focus on ways to keep improving it, Ms Warner said.

The winner of the 2007 Siren Awards will be chosen from the winners and highly commended of the five rounds of the Awards and will be judged by the Siren Creative Council - comprising leading creative directors from national advertising agencies. The 2007 winner will be automatically entered into the Cannes Radio Lions â€“ to be held in June and will also win two tickets to attend the festival.

Last yearâ€™s Gold Siren Award winner was an ad for Bic Pens called Chicken Inseminator. TheÂ Â advertisement, written by John Mescall, Rebecca Newman and Malcolm Chambers from Smart advertising agency in Melbourne, used comedy to promote the importance of using a failsafe pen. The same ad also won a Silver Siren for winning the overall single category.

Both the Sirens breakfast and Masterclass will be held at The Point Albert Park in Melbourne. Commercial Radio Australia is running the event in association with the Melbourne Advertising and Design Club (MACD). The breakfast will run from 7.30am to 9.30am and the Masterclass will follow the breakfast and includes lunch. Tickets are on sale now at $395 for the breakfast and Masterclass combined and $60 for breakfast only. An early bird discounted rate of $350 is available for those members of Commercial Radio Australia and MADC who book and pay before Thursday April 5. For a booking form and more information visit the Sirens website.

Australian singer Missy Higgins was discovered through triple j’s unearthed competition and now the youth radio station is looking for unsigned songwriters for a new contest.

The station has launched the Flesh It Out Unsigned Songwriter competition, following triple j’s success at exposing a plethora of talented musicians since the unearthed program began in 1995.

In the past triple j’s unearthed competition has unveiled some of Australia’s greatest solo artists and bands including Grinspoon, the Sick Puppies and Killing Heidi, plus six time ARIA award winner Higgins.

The Flesh It Out competition hopes to uncover some of Australia’s best solo or duo songwriters.

The winner of this latest initiative will be invited to attend a special music event, the Fuse Festival in Adelaide in March, to showcase their skills to industry experts, as well as have their song recorded.

They will also embark on an intimate workshop led by three of Australia’s top songwriters including Rob Hirst and Jim Moginie of legendary Aussie band Midnight Oil.

Aspiring songwriters should upload their chosen piece of music to triplejunearthed.com by midnight February 25.

Nova’s Kate Langbroek gave birth to a healthy baby boy last Saturday. Art Honore Langbroek Lewis weighed in at just over 8lb, with mother and bub doing fine. Former 2DAY FM/ FOX (Judith Lucy show etc) presenter Peter Helliar is now part of the breakfast team sitting along side Dave Huges.

3MP breakfast presenterÂ John BurgessÂ popped up on Channel 7Â presenting the Mid week Tattslotto draw this week. While on the subject of Burgo, it was reported this week that he still has the desire to return to TV to present a game show.

SIRIUS Satellite Radio will work with Frank Sinatra Enterprises to create a new radio channel dedicated to the music, time and spirit of Frank Sinatra.”Siriusly Sinatra”, a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, commercial-free channel, will air recordings covering Sinatraâ€™s entire career, as well as other artists from the big band, swing and traditional pop genres.

In addition to featuring regular segments of Sinatra music, “Siriusly Sinatra” will also feature a weekly show hosted by Nancy Sinatra featuring rare live concert performances and special archived material.

SIRIUS and the Sinatra family will create “The Chairmanâ€™s Hour”, a show hosted by the deceased Sinatra himself - made possible by editing existing recordings of Sinatra’s spoken word and music.

The channel was unveiled today but the satellite radio service did not announced an official launch date.

While alive, Frank Sinatra received 13 GRAMMYÂ® awards and holds the distinction of singing on the first Billboard No. 1 single, â€œIâ€™ll Never Smile Againâ€ from 1940 which sold 900,000 copies.

Sports radio station 1116 SEN today announced respected broadcaster FRANCIS LEACH will return to host the stationâ€™s popular drive program, â€˜The Run Homeâ€™.Â Leach will join former Melbourne champion and football commentator DAVID SCHWARZ from 4-7pm weekdays, commencing MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19. Leach, who was part of the original SEN team in 2004, has almost twenty years experience in radio with various roles at the ABC and more recently Vega. A self-confessed football tragic, Francis has spent a lifetime passionately following local and international sport.

ANTHONY HUDSON who has successfully hosted the program for the past three years, will now focus on heading up SENâ€™s football calling team and assisting the station with development and strategy as it embarkson its AFL match coverage. Barrie Quick, Chief Executive Officer, Radio SEN and 3MP said the station looks forward to Francisâ€™ return.â€œFrancis has always been held in high regard by everyone at 1116 SEN and weâ€™re thrilled to have him back. Francis is an intelligent and instinctive broadcaster and his warm personality will be the perfect complement to David Scwharzâ€™s enthusiastic style. We are excited at the pairing and look forward to seeing their on-air relationship evolve on â€˜The Run Homeâ€™.Leach is delighted at the prospect of returning to SEN and its all-sport format, â€œAs a clinically-diagnosed â€˜footy tragicâ€™, my complete lack of on-field ability means that a professional playing career is out of the question. However, Radio SEN, with its unrivalled commitment to all things sport offers me the next best thing: if I canâ€™tplay footy, at least I can bang on about it every afternoon with one of the gameâ€™s best. Itâ€™s no secret Iâ€™ve admired the work of David Schwarz over the years; and even though I couldnâ€™t match him toe-to-toe on the paddock, the studio is a level playing field!â€

Mr Quick also thanked Anthony Hudson for his work on the program. â€œAnthony has contributed immeasurably to the success of the drive program and the overall station. His extensive media experience and AFL knowledge will be a significant benefit in the execution of the stationâ€™s AFL broadcast strategy. With the addition of Francis to the team, SEN is in a great position to capitalise on our growing success. â€Having secured AFL broadcast rights for the next three years, and as Melbourneâ€™s only 24-hour sports radio station, SEN is enjoying solid revenue growth and a reputation as the most well-credentialed sports station in Melbourne.

Â With an already extensive catalogue of VFL, A-League Soccer, Basketball and Rugby League coverage and some of the countryâ€™s most respected on-air talent, SEN is well placed as it undertakes what will undoubtedly be its most rewarding year to date.

THE NEW RADIO 1116 SEN DAILY LINE-UP:6-9am Morning Glory with TIM WATSON, BILLY BROWNLESS & ANDREW MAHER 9am-12noonHungry for Sport with KEVIN BARTLETT 12-4pm The Good Oil with MARK DORAN 4-7pmThe Run Home with FRANCIS LEACH & DAVID SCHWARZ7-11pm (Mon-Thur) Beva After Dark with BRUCE EVA 11-12 The Day in Sport with MATT THOMPSON 12-6am World Sport Overnight with TONY SCHIBECI

Magic 1278 is now presenting the Classic Top 40 each weeknight between 7.00pm and 10.00pm. Presented by Peter Van (Bill Howie has retired from Magic evenings) it is refreshing to hear the ‘radio hits’ once again.

Francis Leach has returned to 1116 SEN and will co-host drive (The Run Home)Â with David Schwarz. Leach left SENÂ joining Vega FMÂ when theyÂ launched but the love of sport (read AFL) has lured him back.Â

The Australian’s Mark Day gives an honest spin on the details surrounding the sale of Stuart Simson’s five easy listening radio stations. Read the entire story

FORMER Productivity Commissioner Stuart Simson has sold his five regional radio stations ahead of a report from the Australian Communications and Media Authority on the legality of his ownership.Simson’s Elmie Investments purchased the stations in Cairns, Mackay, Bendigo, Mildura and Bunbury in 2005 after Macquarie Regional Radioworks, an arm of Macquarie Bank, bought the regional operations of Bermuda-based billionaire Reg Grundy’s RGC Radio.MRR had earlier bought the regional operations of DMG Radio, and the RGC acquisition meant it was in potential breach of the “two stations to a market” rule in the five markets.

The stations were originally owned by AMI Radio, formerly associated with Griffith radio and TV identity Ray Gamble.

The ACMA inquiry, announced in February last year, was aimed at probing possible breaches of ownership rules relating to the control of the licences.

It is understood Elmie had a $9 million funding arrangement with ANZ, secured by a guarantee from a Macquarie Bank subsidiary.

ACMA’s terms of reference called for an investigation into whether Macquarie Bank or any of its subsidiaries or any other related person or associate was in a position to exercise control of the Elmie licences.

It also asked whether any offences had been committed in relation to the Elmie licences, whether Elmie remained a suitable licensee and what action, if any, should be taken as a result of ACMA’s findings.

It is understood the inquiry, conducted by ACMA staff, was completed late last year and findings unfavourable to Elmie and Macquarie Bank were made in a draft report prepared for ACMA members to consider.

And in what ACMA described as “following the requirements of natural justice”, a copy of the draft report was given to Elmie’s legal representatives.

Reports circulated last week that Mr Simson was endeavouring to sell his stations and although he refused to comment, he did say he had not seen the ACMA report. On Thursday, Prime TV announced it had bought 4EL Cairns and 4AA Mackay for an undisclosed sum.

This purchase is not conditional on media cross-ownership laws changing.

Prime does not broadcast in far north Queensland.

Janet Cameron’s Grant Broadcasters picked up 3CV in central Victoria and 3MA Mildura, to add to her existing Victorian holdings in Ballarat and Geelong.

She now controls 21 licences, making her the third largest regional operator in the nation, after MRR and Bill Caralis’s Superstation network of 32 signals in NSW and Queensland.West Australian Newspapers bought 6EL Bunbury to add to its Red FM and Sprit FM holdings, which broadcast to regional Western Australia.

The sales end Mr Simson’s brief career as a media owner.

A former managing director of The Age and member of the Productivity Commission’s far-sighted 1999 broadcasting review, he resigned as chairman of advertising company Emitch to take on his radio ownership role.

He was bitterly critical of last year’s media reforms, saying their effects fell unfairly on regional radio.

Mr Simson denied the sales were related to the ACMA report.

“It was a commercially sensible thing to do and had nothing to do with ACMA,” he said.

BBC Radio 2 breakfast presenter Sir Terry Wogan has been honoured in his home city of Limerick with a lifetime achievement award from the Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.68 year old Wogan began his career on RTE as well as hosting chat programmes for the BBC, the voice of the Eurovision Song Contest, hosting Children in Need every year, his popular Radio 2 breakfast show and recently receiving aÂ knighthood from the Queen.

ABC radio presenterÂ Virginia Trioli will replace political aspirant Maxine McKew as the Friday night host on ABC TV’s Lateline program. Mckew has joined the Labor party and is expected to be fasttracked into a safe seat prior to the nextÂ federal election.

Southern Cross radioÂ stations 3AW and Magic 1278 are now the official partners of Â The Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday appeal along with Channel 7 Melbourne and The Herald Sun. 3AW and Magic replace Mix 101.1 (born out of 3DB)Â who have had a connection to the traditional Good Friday Appeal dating back to 1942. This years appeal is on April 6.

More than a few raised eyebrowls after a departing regional announcer delivered a verbal spray as to what he thought of the station and company he had been working for! Hope it won’t back fire on him at his new gig. Word is the audio might already be doing the rounds.

Dermott Brereton will be part of 1116 SEN’s AFL coverage when it kicks off this year. Dermie was part of the original on air team when SEN launched on the 19th of January 2004 but quit the station to join Triple M over a pay dispute with the former owners of SEN. He has parted company with Triple M where he also co-hosted Dead Set Legends, a Saturday morning sports show.

Despite an ongoing struggle with a debilitating form of brain cancer, former radio shock-jock Stan Zemanek has not lost his fighting spirit.

Returning to the public forum today with a new series of the TV panel show Beauty And The Beast, Zemanek has vowed to maintain the opinionated outbursts that have punctuated his career and led to the program’s success.

“When we recorded the first show, everyone was on tenterhooks and worried about how the audience would react to me and how I would react to them just tiptoeing around me,'’ Zemanek told The Sunday Telegraph.

“After the first segment, I thought this isn’t right, and so during the second segment I just gave it to them with both barrels and you could see their faces light up. They knew then they could have a go at me and not worry about it.'’

Zemanek was diagnosed and subsequently operated on for an aggressive brain tumour last May.

In December, he ended his radio commitments with 2UE, after 17 years hosting his own nightly program.

At the time, Zemanek said he was hanging up his microphone to concentrate on his health and to spend time with his wife, Marcella, and his family.

While the nightly radio slot proved too difficult during cancer treatment, Zemanek said his return to television had proved the best form of therapy.

“Doing the program has been really good for me,'’ Zemanek said. “The doctor said I could go one of two ways: either I put my feet up for six months and hope to get through it, or to do what I’ve been doing all my life, which is working hard.

“I’m not working the 16 hours a day that I was working before but, by doing the show, I’m concentrating and doing something I love, allowing me to forget about everything else.

“I forget about questioning whether I’ll live tomorrow and die the next day.'’

Despite their often volatile on-screen relationship, Zemanek’s Beauty And The Beast colleagues, Jeanne Little and Prue MacSween, welcomed his return.

Like their sister stations across the country, in Perth and Qld,Â 1071 (the former 3CV) and 1467 (once the frequency of 3MA)Â have been sold by Elmie Investments Pty Ltd. The Victorian licences have been bought by Grant Broadcasters. This deal will see Grant’s coverage across regional Victoria increase with a foothold via 1071 into the Bendigo market. The Mildura station known as 3ML has enormous potential for Grant’s regional activities.

ABC 774 breakfast presenter Red Symons will be a judge on the new Seven network program ‘Australia’s Got Talent’. Red is no stranger to being a judge on a talent show having cut the mustard on long running Hey Hey It’s Saturday segment Red Faces.

Red said today â€˜It will be a refreshing change to do a talent show that is genuinely looking for excellence, rather than enduring a group of guys who are on a dare from their mates at the pub!â€™â€˜Itâ€™s not like I havenâ€™t done this sort of thing before. Itâ€™s just like falling off a horse, shooting it and turning it into glueâ€™

Australiaâ€™s Got Talent will search for the freshest undiscovered talent in the country and will be hosted by Grant Denyer.

You may not think being host of a Polka music show on Radio is that important, but, sometimes, people just deserve a little credit. From playfuls.com: “Bronislaw Hudela, host of a weekly New York-area radio program since 1948, has died at 88 after an illness, his family said. Hudela had hosted ‘Polkatime Sunday’ on radio station WKNY-AM in Kingston, N.Y., since April 1948, The (Kingston) Daily Freeman reported Tuesday… His lively program, in which he read all the commercials himself, is believed to be one of the longest-running programs with the same host in U.S. radio history…”

Prime Television has bought two new radio stations in Cairns and MackayÂ fromÂ Elmie Investments Pty Ltd. Prime chief executive Warwick Syphers said the acquisition of the twoÂ Easy Listening stations - 4EL AM846 in Cairns, and 4AA Radio Ten26 in Mackay - was part of a long term strategy to develop the broadcaster’s regional business in high growth markets.

One of the world's funniest men, John Cleese, has recorded a series of radio ads for the Australian industry as part of its ongoing brand campaign, which will go to air nationally next week.

The first of the ads, called ''Celebrity'' features Cleese and Australian comedian, Mark Mitchell discussing why there is no need to use celebrities in radio advertising. The use of humor is an ongoing feature of the radio campaign as is the overall message, which highlights the cost effectiveness of using radio, and audience reach.

The advertisements follow a viral campaign released earlier this week on the internet to radio stations, advertising agencies, advertisers and media companies, which promote the Cleese ads through a game featuring the comedian.

Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner said the viral campaign aimed to create awareness and excitement about the ads and was also a fun way to help promote the new campaign and radio generally.

''It is very exciting for the radio industry that John Cheese agreed to do these ads for us while he was here last year as guest speaker at our conference and Awards. His enthusiasm for Australian radio was immense and he was keen to be involved in these ads,'' Ms Warner said.

The radio ads are the latest in a series of well-known commercials Mr Cleese has undertaken including ads for Sony, Callard and Bowser and Schweppes.

Hinch radio programÂ sports commentator Jim Wilson will soon join Channel 7 Brisbane in a part time capacity. Wilson quit 7 after the 2004 Athens Olympic Games after being dumped from being the main sports anchor on 7 nightly news Melbourne. Wilson is now based in Brisbane.

The ABC’s chief said the public broadcaster had not identified a new Brisbane headquarters before a report into breast cancer was released.

Union officials meanwhile remain concerned Brisbane journalists and producers will continue working out of different locations under difficult conditions.

ABC staff abandoned the ageing site at Toowong, in the city’s inner-west, shortly before Christmas last year after an independent panel of experts headed by Professor Bruce Armstrong found the breast cancer rate there was up to 11 times higher than among the general working community.

Twelve women who worked at the riverside Toowong office have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the past 11 years, including eight who work in the newsroom.

ABC television staff returned to work on Dec 27 at a temporary studio based at the Network Ten premises at Mount Coot-tha while radio staff have begun broadcasting from a specially fitted out van in a Toowong carpark.

ABC managing director Mark Scott defended the response to the cancer cluster and said the organisation had to move swiftly once the cluster was confirmed by Prof Armstrong.

But he admitted the ABC had not had a new building in mind when the report came out.

“If you’re asking me whether in fact we took out a long-term lease in the prospect that this Armstrong report would find what it found, no we didn’t,” Mr Scott told ABC Radio.

“But did we make contingency planning so that we would continue to remain on air and provide local broadcasting and services to the people of Brisbane? Yes we did.”

The ABC would also be moving rapidly to set up its new building, once a suitable site was found.

“We are confident that when we find the right new location for us, that we will be able to fast-track that,” Mr Scott said.

Other ABC sites around the country are also set to be examined with Prof Armstrong to advise if there are any health concerns.

But Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance assistant federal secretary Mark Ryan said a site had to be found as a matter of urgency, despite the tight Brisbane commercial real estate market.

“They need to find sooner, rather than later, a site where they can actually perform their work properly,” Mr Ryan said.

“As far as we are concerned, the current situation cannot continue for any period of time.

“It is just unsustainable from a professional level and a workplace level.”

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that the licensee of 2GB Sydney, Harbour Radio Pty Ltd, breached the Commercial Radio Code of Practice by broadcasting material that was likely to vilify people of Lebanese background on the basis of ethnicity.

The breach arose from material included in The Open-Line Show hosted by 2GB presenter, Mr Brian Wilshire, broadcast on 15 December 2005. While ACMA found the material was presented for a purpose in the public interest, being discussion of factors contributing to unrest in southern Sydney, ACMA was not persuaded that the comments were presented reasonably and in good faith for this purpose.

ACMA found 2GB breached clause 1.3(e) of the code. Under this clause, a licensee must not broadcast a program which is likely to incite or perpetuate hatred against or vilify any person or group on the basis of a number of attributes, including ethnicity.

The licensee advised ACMA that it took immediate action after the broadcast. An apology was aired on the day following the broadcast on the Channel 10 news and on 2GB.

The licensee has also advised that during compliance training, which followed the broadcast, all presenters and production staff were briefed 'about the importance of ensuring that in discussing current affairs, criticisms of particular types of conduct is reasonable, but criticisms that are based on persons having any of the attributes listed in code 1.3(e) are not".

ACMA notes the licensee's prompt and prominent public apology and its re-emphasis on compliance training in this case. As such, ACMA considers these actions are a reasonable response to the circumstances identified in the investigation. ACMA will closely monitor the licensee's ongoing performance against this provision of the code.

Mike Brady and Geoff Cox spent many a night together playing in their band Cox, Brady and the Occasional Lady. Nowadays they go head to head on Melbourne radio each Saturday night. For the last few years Coxy (who was famous for playing at the Roxy) has presented Jukebox on 3MP while Mike Brady is the summer host of Saturday nights on 3AW with a talk based program called Mike to Midnight.

Chris Holland is the new breakfast jock at Classic Rock 1O2.5 with a starting date of early Feb. Matt Conlon has now departed the station andÂ in the interim Andy Ingram will cover breakfast.Â Chris comes to Classic Rock from Power FM Bega.

The greater percentage ofÂ the Caralis owned Supernetwork stations have returned to broadcasting the John Laws morning prgram from today. Most will broacast Laws from 9.00am until 11.00am with Leon Delaney being aired from 11.00am until Noon.

With regular 3AWÂ weekendÂ overnight presenter Alan Pearsal currently filling in for the holidaying Keith McGowan weekends are being covered by Nightline producer Simon Owens. Simon connects to the audience, delivering a warm light hearted program. His passion for the medium shines through, something that is missing in many areas of radio in this day and age.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has asked 2HHH FM Ltd, licensee of the community radio service 2HHH in Hornsby, Sydney, to provide a revised policy and procedure for internal conflict resolution that meets the purpose and intent of clause 6.2 of the Community Broadcasting Codes of Practice 2002.

The licensee has been asked to provide the document to ACMA by 2 April 2007.

ACMAâ€™s action follows a finding that 2HHH had breached the code by not having in place a written policy and procedure that outlined mechanisms to facilitate internal conflict resolution. ACMA also found that 2HHH had breached the code by not responding to a complainantâ€™s letter within 60 days of receipt.

As this is the first complaint ACMA has received about 2HHHâ€™s internal conflict resolution and its handling of complaints, ACMA has decided to take no further action at this stage.

ACMA will continue to monitor 2HHHâ€™s performance in relation to complaints handling.

A conglomerate that includes the Irish-owned Independent News and Media (INM) has revived a bid for APN News & Media.

INM already owns a 40 per cent stake in APN and had previously made a bid to buy out the media network, which owns several newspapers and radio stations throughout the Australasian region.

It has now teamed up with private equity firms Providence Equity and The Carlyle Group to offer A$6.05 (Â£2.39) per APN share. The previous bid by INM and Providence Equity, which was rejected by the company, is said to have been valued at A$6.02 (Â£2.38) per share.

APN shares closed on the market at A$6.15 (Â£2.43) a share yesterday.

Commenting on the bid, APN sub-committee chairman Ted Harris said: “The proposal will now be considered by the committee, which will decide whether it is in the best interests of all shareholders, and make a recommendation as quickly as possible.”

If the bid is accepted, the buyout will increase INM’s media reach throughout the Australasian region. APN runs 23 daily and over 100 other publications in Australia and New Zealand. Its radio network includes 12 Australian radio stations and 120 radio stations in New Zealand.

A 19-year-old man has appeared in a Brisbane court charged with the murder and robbery of Brian Heathcote at Nundah on the weekend.

Brian Heathcote, 40, was bashed to death on a Nundah street around 1.30am AEST on Sunday.

He was walking home after leaving a nearby hotel when the alleged attack occurred. His body was discovered on the footpath by two people who were driving by. Police have charged 19-year-old Tyson Alfred Barden with Mr Heathcote’s murder, and also with robbery with violence.

At a brief appearance in the Brisbane Magistrates Court, Barden did not apply for bail and the matter was set for mention in March. Police are still questioning an 18-year-old woman over Mr Heathcote’s death.

Brian was well known to listeners of instore retail radio (Kmart Supa Cheap Auto etc) as well as an in demand voice over man. Vale Brian Heathcote.

Matthew Newton has been sacked from his new radio role as his famous parents vow to stand by him over charges he assaulted actor Brooke Satchwell.

Just hours after Newton’s new girlfriend Gracie Otto, 19, the daughter of legendary performer Barry Otto, drove him from her family’s Lewisham home in Sydney’s inner west, Newton announced Nova radio station had released him from his contract, reportedly worth up to $200,000 a year.

“Over the last two days I have become the subject of intense media and public interest. As the matter of interest relates to a court case, I am not able to freely and openly discuss it,” Newton said in a statement.

“As such, my ability to perform my role as an on-air announcer is greatly limited. Nova and I agree the appropriate course is for them to release me from contractual obligations.

“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Nova for the support and understanding they have shown in releasing me from my contract.”

Nova had signed on Newtown to co-host the Matt and Akmal Show with comedian Akmal Saleh in their prime time drive shift on Friday.

The station suspended his involvement in the broadcasts, which were due to begin yesterday, after allegations were made public at the weekend that Newton had assaulted Satchwell in September and October last year.

News of the sacking came as a resident of the street where Newton lived with Satchwell revealed details of several late night screaming sessions. Describing Newton’s behaviour as “atrocious,” the resident told how he helped Satchwell move out of the former couple’s Rozelle home.

The Oxford St resident, who refused to give his name, said he had heard Newton screaming abuse on several occasions before Satchwell, who was well liked in the street, moved out.

“She has always been very polite and extremely friendly,” he said.

“Generally speaking he was just a bad neighbour. It would be screaming at night.”

Meanwhile Bert Newton’s agent and friend Glenn Wheatley described the Newton family as extremely close and said Matthew’s parents were standing by their son.

Mr Wheatley, who has spoken with Bert Newton since news of the assault charges became public on the weekend, said he believed Bert and Patti may have previously been aware of the charges.

“How much they knew before hand, I’m not sure … my feeling is it’s come as a bit of a shock,” Mr Wheatley said.

“They are very positive under the circumstances … the family is very, close knit and they are going to be absolutely together for him (Matthew).

“Bert has asked that I explain to everybody that, because it’s a family matter, they are not going to be making a comment at the moment.”

Mr Wheatley said a recording and singing career he was developing with Matthew Newton would go ahead.

“He is an extremely talented singer, he is a very gifted performer,” he said.

Newton is due to appear at Balmain Local Court today.

He faces four charges, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He has pleaded not guilty.

DMG Radio Australia’s slow birth of its Vega FM brand continues with the launch of another outdoor campaign in Sydney and Melbourne.

Sydney’s Vega 95.3FM and Melbourne’s Vega 91.5FM are now being promoted with the campaign line “Vega variety 70s, 80s and the best new songs”.It is the first push in what is expected to be an intense rush of marketing for Australia’s FM stations in the first months of 2007.

Austereo’s youth stations, primarily 2DAY and Fox, gained a march on their competitors in early 2006 with expensive early campaigns. The network held and consolidated its FM ratings lead after that bright start.

For DMG’s baby-boomer stations, the story is a little different, with both stations still struggling for recognition after high-profile launches in 2005. Both Vegas remained beside Triple J at the bottom of the ratings table, although the last survey of 2006 showed small signs of growth and encouraging cumulative audiences.

“The next step in our marketing campaign, the most recent of which was communicating the message of ‘Vega variety’, is taking that one step further and further describing the playlist,” said Jane Earnshaw, promotions and marketing director for Vega 95.3FM and Vega 91.5FM.

“It’s not a tinkering as such; it’s looking at the playlist now and what listeners are saying they want from it.”

The campaign, designed in-house, will feature on billboards in both cities and bus advertising in Sydney.

DMG’s $160 million gamble on the new network hasn’t replicated the success of its stablemate Nova. After launching with big personalities, including Wendy Harmer, Tony Squires and ABC recruit Angela Catterns, the Vega stations have pared back the talk content in favour of music.

“It’s no secret that initially the (marketing) concept was too complex, which was surprising for everybody because it was so well researched,” Ms Earnshaw admitted.

“It’s always hard when researching a new station because you’re asking about the incumbents and what they don’t like about them and also asking about something that doesn’t exist yet. But the (audience) behaviour just didn’t match the insights.”

A 28-year-old woman has died of water intoxication after taking part in a Californian radio station’s water drinking contest.She was in the “Hold Your Wee for a Wii” competition trying to win a Nintendo Wii video game system.

Assistant Sacramento County Coroner Ed Smith said today a preliminary investigation found evidence “consistent with a water intoxication death”.Jennifer Strange’s mother found her daughter’s body at her home yesterday in the Sacramento suburb of Rancho Cordova, California, after Strange called her supervisor at her job to say she was heading home in terrible pain.

“She said to one of our supervisors that she was on her way home and her head was hurting her real bad,” said Laura Rios, one of Strange’s co-workers at Radiological Associates of Sacramento.

“She was crying and that was the last that anyone had heard from her.”

Earlier yesterday Strange took part in a contest at radio station KDND 107.9 in which participants competed to see how much water they could drink without going to the toilet.

Initially, contestants were handed 220mL bottles of water to drink every 15 minutes.

“They were small little half-pint bottles, so we thought it was going to be easy,” said fellow contestant James Year of Woodland, California.

“They told us if you don’t feel like you can do this, don’t put your health at risk.”

Ybarra said he quit after drinking five bottles.

“My bladder couldn’t handle it anymore,” he added.

After he quit, he said, the remaining contestants, including Strange, were given even bigger bottles to drink.

“I was talking to her and she was a nice lady,” Ybarra said. “She was telling me about her family and her three kids and how she was doing it for kids.”

John Geary, vice president and marketing manager for Entercom Sacramento, the station’s owner, said station personnel were stunned when they heard of Strange’s death.

“We are awaiting information that will help explain how this tragic event occurred,” he said.

Matthew Newton has been dropped from the Nova drive program prior to even starting on air. Well they say a week is a longtime in radio but this one takes the cake! In light of the current controversy surrounding Matthew Newton and a domestic relationship charge over his head Nova GM Sam Thompson today has suspended Newton’s debut as co-host of drive.

As mentioned here first late last week Matthew Newton has joined Nova to present drive in Melbourne and Sydney. Hot on the heels of this announcement comes the news that Newton has been charged in regards to a domestic incident with former longtime girlfriend Brooke Satchwell. The headlines in todays press ran with the following quote.

Longtime producer of the 6PR morning program Simon Beaumont has taken over presenting. Simon who more recently was producing the program for Bob Maumill takes over from Monday morning. The show will now go head to head with the ABC moving back to its original 8.30am start time.

Early this week, (01/09), Howard Stern marked his first year on SIRIUS Satellite Radio. And even though he is still bringing his show to a substantially smaller audience than he had on terrestrial radio, Sternâ€™s magnetism has attracted enough new subscribers to SIRIUS to have earned him $83 million dollars from a stock bonus.

SIRIUS recently reported over 6 million subscribers for its service, putting it in a position to breathe squarely down XM’s neck - which just announced it has 7.5 million subscribers. Considering this gap has substantially narrowed and quickly, Stern has to be considered part of the reason. SIRIUS had 3 million subscribers in December, 2005 and only 1 million in December, 2004. Think what you may about Stern â€“ he has always had admirers and detractors â€“ but, his move to SIRIUS has proven that he can multitask: do his own F.C.C.-less show and program two channels busting over with Stern-approved talent.

“It’s been a great year and the show is better than ever,” said Stern.

“We’ve delivered on the promise of satellite radio; I can do whatever I want and say whatever I want.”Having two dedicated Howard Stern channels makes it possible for SIRIUS to replay The Howard Stern Show all day and night, allowing fans to listen to the show any time. Howard 100 and Howard 101 feature original shows such as The Wrap Up Show, a daily recap of that morningâ€™s Howard Stern Show hosted by producer Gary Dellâ€™Abate and Jon Hein; The Bubba the Love Sponge Show, a controversial and funny afternoon talk show; The Scott Ferrall Show, a nightly talk show hosted by veteran sports radio personality Scott Ferrall; Jackieâ€™s Joke Hunt, a weekly comedy program hosted by former longtime Stern show member Jackie â€œThe Joke Manâ€ Martling; The Riley Martin Show, a weekly show about Martinâ€™s alien experience; Superfan Roundtable, a weekly show featuring Stern â€œsuperfansâ€ and appearances by the Wack Pack, and The Intern Show, on which the college-age interns reveal the behind the scenes details of working on The Howard Stern Show.

At SIRIUS, Stern even has his own news department, the “Howard 100 News Team” which reports on all things “Howard” all-the-time. You might think this is the epitome of ego-driven programming but for Stern fans, it is real news by a news department which does a very professional job - though, often with tongues in cheek.

In addition to The Howard Stern Show, Stern has created original programming for his two channels over the last year, such as The Bitter Half, a radio drama about Stern show wives and girlfriends, written and produced by Sam Simon, one of the original developers of The Simpsons.

Howard Stern and his channels were a hefty financial investment for SIRIUS â€“ beginning with the highly reported $500 million dollar/5-year deal for his services. With the additional $83 million he earned this week one thing is clear: the King of All Media has also proven himself to be a Jack of All Trades when it comes to content and programming.

Metropolitan commercial radio stations generated advertising revenue of $599.6 million in calendar year 2006, according to figures released today by peak industry body Commercial Radio Australia.Â The result was a 1.4 per cent increase compared with the $591.4 million generated in the 2005 calendar year.

â€œWhile there was good growth in Perth and Brisbane, the overall result was weighed down by the Sydney market, which continues to be adversely affected by the weaker New South Wales economy,â€ said chief executive officer Joan Warner.

Perth was the strongest market in 2006, up nearly 7 per cent in the 12 months ending December to $65 million, followed by Brisbane, which grew by 6 per cent to $91.8 million.Â Sydney stations attracted revenue of $216.0 million in 2006, a 5 per cent decline over 2005, while Melbourne was up 5 per cent to $170.2 million and Adelaide was up 6 per cent to $56.6 million.Â The data is compiled by PricewaterhouseCoopers for the five major capital city markets.

Sydney was the only market to decline in the six months ending December 2006, with Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane showing solid growth.

â€œThe industry is also hopeful of securing a significant share of political advertising in 2007 with a state election slated for NSW, and a Federal Election likely before the end of the year,â€ she added.

Despite competition from newer entertainment choices, commercial radio continued to attract loyal audiences in 2006, with over 8.6 million Australians tuning in in metropolitan areas, representing an audience reach of 77 percent.Â The average time spent listening to commercial radio was 17 hours and 57 minutes each week, or two hours and 33 minutes per day.

Former long time 3mp presenter Steve Curtis has moved to Magic 1278. A 36 year veteran in the Radio and Television industry Curtis pulled the pin on MP in November only day’s before the PD and long time Curtis friend Peter Butler also quit.They were quickly followed by MP music director Peter Tarnawski who is now working overseas.

31 May 2007 The Australian Communications and Media Authority is seeking comment on proposals to vary transmitter sites for three radio services in the Innisfail region of Queensland. The full release can be found here

31 May 2007 The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that Lambing Flat Community Broadcasting Inc, the licensee of community radio station 2YYY Young, failed to encourage members of the community it serves to participate in the operations and programming of the service. The full release can be found here

28 May 2007 Is Eddie McGuire interested in more than just a passing interest of a certain radio station and we don't mean calling the Football? Expect more on this over the next week.

27 May 2007 4BC producer Jade Jones returns to the other side of the studio next week. Jade has joined 91.9 Sea FM breakfast.

26 May 2007 Is private equity group Iron Bridge Capital looking at Singos Macquarie radio next?

25 May 2007

25 May 2007 Traffic guru 'Chopper Dave' Andrews of Brisbane's B105 is recovering from open heart surgery. Dave has had his aortic valve replaced. With rehab he will most likely be back at work inside the next four or so weeks.

24 May 2007 With 3AW's Derryn Hinch rumoured to be battling a further health set back Peter Maher is keeping the seat warm for all of this week at least.

24 May 2007 Who is the serial pest constantly phoning a regional radio station wanting to know various segments of the line-up. What a wonderful thing caller i.d is!

23 May 2007 Has all trace of the website dedicated to the bumblings of a certain afternoon talk announcer vanished. Seek and you shall find! The material really is free flowing so we fully understand the inspiration!

21 May 2007 Which Big Brother 2007 house mate wanna be has already been circled as a possible FM gimmick jock? Please spare us the agony!

21 May 2007 Could Greg Victor be the new 4BH breakfast host replacing Kim Mothershaw?

18 May 2007 Dayle Richardson is the new PD at 5MU/PowerFM. Dayle will continue in his on air role at Powe FM.

18 May 2007 Was that caller who called the 3AW Rumour file suggesting Eddie McGuire was set to announce he was quitting the top job at Channel 9. leaked the info from indide the 3AW bunker?

18 May 2007 Movement at Fiveaa in the newsroom with Caroline Hillman quitting the station. Caroline has Joined the office of federal MP Kate Ellis

16 May 2007 Recent fill in with a Perth breakfast team impressed listeners and management alike. Having said that the station is happy with their current team.

15 May 2007 Mike (ex fm103.2 Sydney)and Amy Rayson's son Sam passed away overnight in the USA due to medical complications after being kicked by a horse.Mike is currently working as a Church Minister in the US.

13 May 2007 Who is the AM " floater" being eyed by an FM er?12 May 2007 Who is the Sydney based breakfast radio person who is often seen entering and leaving a notorious park in the wee small hours?

11 May 2007 Just how did the new book celebrating 75 years of 3AW make it to a certain popular weekend market so quickly and so cheaply? Priced to sell at a 'hot' price, the shady character off loaded them quicker than 3AK changed presenters!

08 May 2007 Pint size compere of It Takes Two Grant Denyer has upset many people today with a comment made during a guest spot on Nova's Merrick and Rosso program. Asked how he felt after partying hard post Logies Denyer replied "Let me say I'm feeling like I had sex with a black man right now," Aboriginal leader Mick Mundine said he was upset by it and NSW Anti-Discrimination Board president Stephen Kerkyasharian said the comment was stupid.

07 May 2007 Mark Irvine is now doing 3MP evenings in place of Peter O'Callaghan who has moved to mornings.

06 May 2007 Radio rumours scout on the red carpet at tonights TV Week Logie awards reports Triple M breakfast co-host Brigitte Duclos will go down as one of the worst dressed at this years event. He desribes her red shiney gown as 'borrowed'!

06 May 2007 Lot's of industry speculation that SEN are in for a rude shock in Tuesday's ratings. Whilst it could be argued it's early day's the word is the cost of football versus revenue put's them on borrowed time. That is not to say there is a shortage of ads on SEN. This will be the most important survey to SEN since their launch in 2004! Good luck!

06 May 2007 Billy from Billy & Mindy breakfast Star FM Goulburn Valley did his last shift on Saturday morning announcing he was off overseas.

06 May 2007 Magic 1278 breakfast (Andrew and Anne) welcome John Michael Howson as a regular contributor from this week. John Michael will present show business gossip from around 8.20 every Tuesday morning. 05 May 2007 Tim Arnold is now part of the Em and Wippa breakfast program on Perth's 92.9 FM. Of course we know Tim from Nova 100 nights.05 May 2007 3MP's Peter O'Callaghan will be covering the recently departed Jane Holmes shift from Monday morning.

03 May 2007 This month one of the great survivors of radio celebrates 50 years in the industry. Keith McGowan long time host of Melbourne Overnighters on 3AW, started in radio at 3UZ in 1957. Prior to joining 3AW in 1990 he presented the same Overnighters program on 3AK having joined 3AK from 3DB breakfast. (although there was a brief stint at 3GL after 3DB prior to 3AK)

03 May 2007 Will 3MP air that classic Slade Gudby T Jane (Good bye to Jane) track tomorrow? It is Jane Holmes last day at 3MP having joined 3AW. For those who don't know, Jane is the voice you hear anytime you contact Telstra or use your Mobile messagebank.

03 May 2007 Names being mentioned for mornings on 3MP include Steve Murphy (2CH) and Jo Spargo (ABC Gippsland and third generation announcer).

02 May 2007 Who are the drive team who do not talk to each other outside of the studio?

02 May 2007 Could there be a PD exiting via the side door shortly at a Perth FM station?

02 May 2007 Kate Cebrano has won the latest series of Dancing With The Stars beating Triple M's Fifi Box.

02 May 2007 Margaret Campion's long awaited book celebrating 75 years of 3AW is now available for pre-order.View it here

01 May 2007 Kevin Rudd will be special guest on Brisbane's B105 breakfast this Thursday morning. He will be asked to sign an agreement that if he wins the election later this year he will return to the program as Prime Minister.

01 May 2007 Much has been written recently about who are the longest serving breakfast team on radio around the nation. Geelong's Bay FM team of Laurie and Paula have survived the distance of not only time but various music format changes along the the way as well.

01 May 2007 Ace Radio Network Nightline program is being covered by Anthony Keirce (ex 3BA) via 2AY in Albury who is filling in for Mark Watson.

Watch out Triple J radio announcers. Eliza Grogan and Anna Bennet of The J just could be about to knock you off your on-air perch. At least around the northern end of the Sunshine Coast. Whereas Triple J's afternoon schlock jocks look well into their 20s, the latest stars of Noosa Community Radio 101.3FM are yet to enter their teens. Full story Sunshine Coast Daily

29 Apr 2007 You never know who is listening to the radio. During last Friday's Ernie Sigley program on 3AW during the Friday lunch segment the topic got onto the Smiley movies from the 1950's. Out of the blue a talkback caller named Margaret rang in. Margaret just happened to be veteran actress Margaret Christensen who played Smiley's mother, Ma Greevins, in the two movies.

29 Apr 2007 Who is the well known Perth radio newsreader moonlighting doing the late night sex/chat ads reads on TV?

28 Apr 2007 With Rabbit and Amber now filling her former spot as co -host of SA FM breakfast Milly, aka Lisa Millard, has joined Triple M's Paul Murray program.

28 Apr 2007 On Friday B105 breakfast co-host Camilla Severi announced to the world, more so her listening audience, she is expecting a baby in November.

28 Apr 2007 Long-time breakfast announcer is set to end his most recent gig in the next copule of weeks prompting a move to an afternoon shift. More to come on this one. 26 Apr 2007 Steve Curtis is filling in for Ward Everaardt for 2 weeks on Magic 1278 [from Monday 30th]

26 Apr 2007 Jane Holmes has quit 3MP to move to 3AW to replace the retiring Rosemary Margan who did live reads on Neil Mitchell's program. See below25 Apr 2007 Who may be once again gracing the doorstep of the radio station of where their career begun in Melbourne in the 1980's?

25 Apr 2007 Nova drive co-presenter Kate Ritchie is set to join Grant Denyer as co-host of the new series of It Takes Two.

25 Apr 2007 Just what was discussed between John Laws and Kevin Rudd as they lunched together at a Woolloomooloo restaurant yesterday? Can we expect John Howard and Laws to catch up in a similar fashion soon, if so what will the topic be, retirement perhaps?

24 Apr 2007 More movement at K-Rock Geelong with Josh Batters making the the move to Sun FM Alice Springs. Josh will present the Hot 30 countdown as well as cover Mornings from 10 until 2.00pm.

18 Apr 2007 Power FM / 5MU Program Director Stuart Endersby has landed the role of PD at Adelaide's MIX 1O2.3. MIX had searched far and wide across Australia and New Zealand finally settling on the Murray Bridge based Endersby.

17 Apr 2007 Dan Veling has resigned from his role as MD at Geelong's K Rock. On May 9 Dan jets off to live in the UK.

16 Apr With WS FM's Jono Coleman away from the mic for a few days this week Andrew O'Keefe co-hosted The Jonathan Coleman Experience today. Andrew presented the program with regular co-host Julia Zemiro.

12 Apr 2007 Is Ernie Sigley serious? Word suggests he is after extra dosh to be seen on the recently installed Southern Cross webcam!

11 Apr 2007 Neil Mitchell clocks up 20 years at 3AW this week. The morning presenter who took over from Murray Nichol in that slot first joined the station doing drive although if the memory bank serves us correctly their were brief stints on weekend breakfast first.

10 Apr 2007 With FOX FM's Jo Stanely set to be part of the latest series of Channel 7's It Takes Two could her FOX co-host Matt Tilley be about to take to the TV screens with a revamped version of Channel 9's Surprise Surprise?27 Mar 2007Â Survey 2 of the radio ratings have been released. Check the links below.

24 Mar 2007. Nova's Dave HughesÂ will be a regular member ofÂ channel 10's ROVE when the program returns on April 1.Â

23 Mar 2007. 3AW proved why it plays such a pivotal role in the Melbourne media this morning. With in minutes of the tragedy happening in the Burnley tunnel programming swung into full coverage of the event. From just after 10.00am AW dedicated their morning program with informative updates of the shocking breaking news.

22 Mar 2007. Kate Langbroek returns to the NOVA 100 breakfast program this coming Monday. Word is Peter Helliar who has been keeping her seat warmÂ will become a regular part of the team.

21 Mar 2007. It has been reported 3MP's John Burgess was told by a Physic he would return to Melbourne radio. Burgo must of doubted them after shopping himself around the Perth market prior to heading to 'MP.

20 Mar 2006. Expect Austereo's Hamish and Andy to take part in this years Logie awards, possibly in the form of presenting interviews from the Greenroom.

18 Mar 2006. Foot in mouth to 3AW's weekend overnight presenter Alan Pearsal who went to great lengths to explain the Australian public would not cop a 'rich' Prime Minister i e Malcolm Turnball. His conclusion was Kevin Rudd was the only man for the job. Memo to Alan, the Rudd's are far from short of a quid.

17 Mar 2007. From nzherald.co.nz: "Newstalk ZB has announced Paul Holmes will quit the breakfast show he has presented for 20 years at the end of 2008. He will then hand over the breakfast reins to his deputy, Mike Hosking, but will stay with the station focusing on a new show scheduled to air on Saturday mornings from 9.00am to noon until 2011."Â Â

17 Mar 2007. Poor old Peter Tarnawski. First 3MP took months and months to put his pic up on their former website, alas it eventually arrived. Pete naturally was right up there with the rest of the crew when MP updated their site last year. We have the opposite now with Pete having departed the station some months agoÂ although his pic and name are still gracing the evening time-slot. here

17 Mar 2007. 2DAY FM'sÂ Kyle 'pinch me am I dreaming' Sandilands is set to be disqualified from driving over his little incident last week. As reported here Sandilands copped a $590.00 fine for doing 100Km in a 60km zone. Once he pays the fine and it is processed he will disqualified from driving a car for 3 months.

16 Mar 2007. Derryn Hinch fresh from a day away from the mic returned to air today with an editorial reminiscent of days gone by. He launched a verbal attack on Wendy Pierce wife of slain underworld figure Victor Pierce. Read it

15 Mar 2007. Could another head be about to roll over last weeksÂ outing of Anthony Callea on Sydney's 96.1? Alisson Longhurst, the producer who sent the audio to Sydney Confidential has already been sacked.

14Â Mar 2007.Â With Greg Evans set to become a Marriage Celebrant it lends itself to think that if he still hosted Perfect Match and still owned the reception/restaurant venueÂ (which the name of it escapes me) he could have provided a package deal!

13 Mar 2007.Â Â 1116 SEN put a news report to air late Monday (March 12) that Fitzroy football legend Kevin Murray had died. They forgot to do one thing - check the report and verify the facts. The very-much-alive Kevin Murray is checking with his lawyers - could be a costly mistake.

13 Mar 2007.Â Was that really a recentÂ Robbie Williams track being played on GOLD 1043 this morning?

11 Mar 2007.Â Â Steve King 3SR News Journo and host of "Playing to win" sport show is heading to Krock in Geelong

10 Mar 2007.3MP's Peter Ocallaghan Â is heading upÂ the tour of a lifetime for die-hard Elvis fans. With the 30th anniversary of Elvis's death falling in August this year you have a chance to join in what will be a fantastic event. Full details can be found here at www.elvistours.com.au

10 Mar 2007.Impressionable young ears listening to the breakfast showÂ 2DAY FM on Friday morning heard Kyle 'pinch me am I dreaming' Sandilands launch a verbal spray at the NSW Highway Patrol. Sandilands was pulled over and finedÂ $590.00 with a loss of four pointsÂ for doing 100km in a 60km zone. NSW police are rumoured to be seeking a public apology on Mondays program.

Â 07Â Mar 2007.Â Â Regular guest and co host of Triple M's Get This Greg Fleet is in rehab. Fleet is determined to kick his dependence once and for all.Â

04 Mar 2007.Possibly in hast to get their story on Derryn Hinch health woes out The Australian tonight has wrongly reported he is suffering from a brain tumour. Here is the link

02 Mar 2007.After just over 6 years LisaÂ Herbert isÂ leavingÂ DMG where she is currentlyÂ News Director at NOVAÂ 106.9.Â Lisa has landed a role with Channel 7's Sunrise programÂ and will take on a role as entertainment producer.

01 Mar 2007Â With clean up Australia day upon us this Sunday 4th March there will be an abundance of radio people out doing their bit. Hobart's HO FM breakfast team Tori and Phil will be at Pembroke Park in Sorell, a site voted for by listeners. They are all set to 'clean up this great country.

In 2007 John Laws is considered by some people to have overstayed by a couple of years.

In 2003 Laws should have hung up the golden microphone. He had nothing left to prove and could have walked away with the 'radio legend folklore' intact.

Industry insiders say Laws is well aware that his ratings reign is over and is hanging on to a trump card that his program generates more income for 2UE than any other on the station. (via it's advertising and networking)

Radiorumours also asks how deep is the rift (what rift?) between 2UE management and John Laws?

The Laws should have walked views are shared by 2GB's Ray Hadley and the following story from The Bulletin gives an interesting insight.

Commercial radio broadcasters today announced they will adopt the new DAB+ standard for the implementation of digital radio in Australia.Â DAB+ is the new standard for the Eureka 147 platform using advanced audio codec (AAC+).Â It was officially approved by international standards body ETSI in February.

The chief executive officer of industry body Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said DAB+ would provide a better digital radio experience for listeners.

â€œWe have been very active in supporting the international development of DAB+ because it means Australia will be able to adopt the latest, most spectrum efficient technology in the world for the roll out of our digital radio services,â€ Ms Warner said.

DAB+ is two to three times more efficient than the original Eureka 147 standard which uses the MPEG Audio Layer II coding.Â This means radio stations will have more choice in how they use their allocated bandwidth.

â€œDAB+ offers much more efficient compression, which means more stations can be broadcast on a multiplex, resulting in lower per station transmission costs,â€ Ms Warner said.

â€œIt also means each broadcaster will now have the ability to deliver either superior audio quality, split their signal to offer two or three audio channels, or broadcast a combination of better than FM quality sound plus lots of associated data such as text or images.Â Whichever way stations choose to implement digital radio, the result will be a better service for listeners and advertisers.â€

Ms Warner said commercial radio was continuing to work with the ABC and SBS Radio to test the DAB+ standard in Australia and to ensure there will be no transmission or other technical issues.Â The industry is also working with overseas broadcasters and receiver and chip manufacturers on the development of new DAB+ receivers.

DAB+ services and receivers are expected to be rolled out in a number of countries where digital radio is currently in trial phase, which potentially includes the Netherlands, Malta, New Zealand, India and China.

â€œWe want to encourage the availability of a wide range of affordable digital radio receivers with new features such as picture capability,â€ Ms Warner said.Â â€œSome leading manufacturers have told us that they expect to start shipping DAB+ radios later this year.â€The Federal Government is currently drafting digital radio legislation and has set a launch date of 1 January 2009 for the launch of digital radio services in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart.Â The commercial radio industry is planning for a phased rollout across the rest of Australia to follow

Metropolitan commercial radio stations experienced a stronger advertising market in February, with ad revenue up by seven percent compared with the same month in 2006.Â PriceWaterhouseCoopers Radio Revenue Performance figures released today show radio stations in the five capital city markets earned $44.2 million in advertising revenue in February 2007, compared with $41.3 million a year ago.

â€œRadio stations in all five markets experienced growth in the month of February, with Adelaide and Perth leading the growth,â€ said Commercial Radio Australia chief executive Joan Warner.

THE Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has stepped up a protracted investigation into the trading practices of Nielsen Media Research, issuing a section 155 notice requesting more information on how the company structures and sells it media monitoring and analysis services. Read the entire story from The Sydney Morning Herald Here.

Perth radio identity Bob Maumill has come out in support of his longtime friend disgraced former WA Premier Brain Burke. Bob Maumill, who has been a friend of Mr Burke for decades, today said people and businesses came to him because he knew how to get results."They knock on Burke's door, or Grill's door, out of frustration," Mr Maumill told ABC Radio.

Mr Maumill said he accepted Mr Burke had gone too far and cut too many corners in some cases.

But he said his brand of patronage was widespread throughout Australian politics.

"Yeah, but tell me a political party that doesn't do it," he said.

"The major political parties in Australia, careers are born of patronage."

On average, up to 20 per cent of people (or around 2.24 million people per quarter hour) in metropolitan Australia are listening to commercial radio during breakfast â€“ according to figures released today by Commercial Radio Australia.Â

The same figures show that in comparison, only four per cent or around 623,000 people are watching breakfast commercial television in metropolitan areas.

The analysis of Nielsen Media radio surveys 1-8 2006 and OzTAM TV surveys for the same timeframe, shows that commercial radio on average reaches over four times more people than commercial TV in metropolitan areas nationally for the three hours from 6am to 9am.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) intend to facilitate the flow of information between the two agencies during media merger investigations in a way that protects confidential information while helping to ensure that each agencyâ€™s investigations are fully effective, the Chairman of the ACCC, Mr Graeme Samuel, and the Chairman of ACMA, Mr Chris Chapman, said today.

In particular, the ACCC and ACMA will ask parties involved in a media merger who provide confidential information to either agency to agree to that information being provided to the other agency. This will allow the ACCC and ACMA to share this information with each other in a transparent and more efficient way, Mr Samuel and Mr Chapman said.

3AW's Derryn Hinch is suffering from cirrhosis of the liver and he has a growth on his liver that may be cancerous. Hinch has revealed that he felt shame in the fact that he has what is commonly known as the drunks disease has not up until now revealed exactly what his illness was.

Hinch has admitted to drinking up to four bottles of wine on a daily basis over many years and although he has not had a drink for over six months now he would only ever have a drink again if he received news that his condition was terminal. Further to that if he did receive news to that end he has decided he will take his own life.

3AW's drive presenter Derryn Hinch is set to reveal to cause of his illnessÂ that kept him off air for extended periods in 2006.Â

This coming Sunday Channel Nine will feature Derryn who will be interviewed by reporter Tara Brown.Â According to reports coming out of the 60 Minutes camp they say 'Derryn Hinch is finally ready to reveal the truth about the disease that could very well kill him.'

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that Harbour Radio Pty Ltd, the licensee of commercial radio service 2GB Sydney, breached the Commercial Radio Codes of Practice 2004, by presenting material in a misleading manner by giving improper emphasis to the material and by editing that material out of context.

ACMA received two complaints from the Baulkham Hills Shire Council relating to the Mornings program hosted by Ray Hadley. The complaints concerned the presenterâ€™s repeated broadcast of an excerpt of a Council â€˜question time recordingâ€™ in which the Mayor of Baulkham Hills Shire Council is heard addressing a fellow councillor.

28 Feb 2007.Former Big Brother housemate Rachel Corbett is filling in on Perth's 92.9 FM with the breakfast team while Em is away.

28 Feb 2007 Veteran 6IX announcer Brian Lehman will now take on the role of PD as well as his current on air duties.

28 Feb 2007.Magic 1278's recently semi retired Bill Howie has gone back to school, Uni to be exact, as a mature age student. Bill has not quit radio entirely, he now looks after Magic's Sunday mornings.

28 Feb 2007 Conflicting reports of when Melbourne's 3DB actually first went to air. Some sources suggest 19th Feb 1927 whilst others believe it to be today (28TH). Regardless the old girl would have been 80 years old this month. Happy Birthday 3DB.

28 Feb 2007 An emotional Ernie Sigley broke down in tears today while introducing his tribute to Billy Thorpe on his 3AW afternoon program. It was a 'take two' for Ernie who paid tribute to Thorpe by replaying an interview from a couple of years back.

28 Feb 2007. Today tributes have been paid towards rock legend Billy Thorpe who sadly passed away from a heart attack early this morning. One Melbourne FM breakfast presenter must be suffering from a bad case of foot in mouth after adding his bit on air about Thorpe. The presenter in question seriously thought Thorpe would only ever be remembered for the 1970's signature 'Most people I know think that I'm crazy' and was amazed he never got tired of performing his one big hit!' What made his statement worse was none of the other presenters took him to task on it.

Elsewhere across the FM dial GOLD 1043 delivered a fantastic mix of 'live' Thorpe classics and tributes in their drive program. Well worth the listen and well done GOLD.

27 Feb 2007.Well done to Stereo 974 for keeping radio rumors on their link page for the last three and a half years. At least someone had faith the site would return!

A 30 second ad promoting a bungee jump ride, which was recorded live, has won the single and overall categories for round four of this yearâ€™s Siren Awards.Â The ad, called F...k, was written for the company Bungee West, by Matt Dickson from Nova 93.7 in Perth.

Judges and previous round winners, Ant Keough and Grant Rutherford said the ad won the category because of its simplicity and truth. â€˜The Bungee West â€œFâ€¦kâ€ ad, out of all the spots, was the funniest, most insightful and bang on strategy,â€™ said Grant Rutherford.

Pacific Star Network, parent company of Melbourne radio stations 1116 SEN and 1377 3MP has welcomed MR GEORGE BUSCHMAN to the Board of Directors, while MR BARRIE QUICK has been appointed the new title, Chief Executive Officer.

Mr Buschman initially joined Pacific Star as a consultant in November 2005 to oversee the integration of the SEN radio business with that of 3MP and continues to assist the company with strategic advice, programming, and recruitment.

Andrew Moffatt, Chairman Pacific Star Network, said 'With the AFL season approaching, this appointment adds to the strong calibre and experience of the existing Board and provides seasoned radio industry experience to support our continuing push to drive ratings and revenue for the benefit of shareholders.'

Hot 91FM breakfast presenter Jamie Dunn returned from a morning walk yesterday to find his house was on fire. While walking up his street he spotted the Fire Engines, Police and ambo's thinking to himselfÂ it was actually his neighbours home that had smoke pouring out of it.

As he got closer he realised it was his house and the fire had been started by his 7 year old daughter who had been playing with matches.

Macquarie Radio Network Ltd says it has had some informal talks with various parties concerning ownership of the company in the past six months.

"There have been some informal discussions with various parties, but not in a way that ever progressed anywhere," Macquarie Radio chairman Max Donnelly told journalists after the release of the company's first half results.

Mr Donnelly said he was not aware of whether the talks involved private equity groups.

"I'm not aware of any discussions (with private equity)," he said. The operator of Sydney radio stations 2GB and 2CH said it had appointed corporate advisers, Baron Partners Ltd, to look into possible corporate transaction opportunities ahead of the introduction of new media ownership laws.

Adelaide's 5MMM is our featured station. Part of the Austereo Triple M network the station was once known as KAFM, following 1179 5KA converting to the FM band. Although the station nearly missed out on being part of the Triple M family with the 5MMM callsign belonging to a local community station at the time of Village Roadshow purchasing the station in 1993.

These days the 5MMM on air team include John Blackman and Jane Riley, Sean Craig Murphy, Tony Martin, Spoonman amongst others http://www.mytriplem.com.au/

EX-Swans and Crows player Ryan Fitzgerald became the latest player involved in the AFL betting scandal, saying on his Nova 919 breakfast show he had bet on football while playing.

“I’m going to admit to you now â€“ I did it, when I was playing AFL. I bet against other teams. Not the team I was playing for, but I bet.”

Fitzgerald said he didn’t see a problem with players betting, provided it wasn’t on their club.

“Personally I think you can bet on other games, like I said, one player doesn’t change one thing.”

“(But) if you get busted betting on your team or against, especially against your team, that’s when you should be getting the hefty fines.”

The revelation comes on the back of an exclusive story in today’s Advertiser that several leading Crows players may be dragged into the AFL betting scandal.

The AFL is investigating a suspected syndicate wager Adelaide club champion Simon Goodwin made last season.

AFL investigators, led by former Victorian assistant police commissioner Allan Roberts, this week will ask Goodwin if a bet involving thousands of dollars was for a group of current and former Crows players.

If the league can substantiate this suspicion, the AFL betting scandal that has embarrassed four clubs will put several Crows at risk of suspension.

Their concern over the largest bet on Goodwin’s account is whether it was for a long-running syndicate of current and retired Crows players who regularly gamble, particularly on horse racing.

This Sunday 3AW’s Remember When programÂ feature various formerÂ presenters to kick off their 75 years of broadcasting celebrations. John Blackman, Muriel Cooper, Mark Day and Derryn Hinch are amongst those who will recallÂ their time at the station.

No doubt a good idea to run a tape over the program just in case there are any surprise snippets.

One wonders if the forgotten post breakfast program, (prior to the arrival of Ross Stevenson and co from 3AK) UPFRONT will be remembered? It was hosted by Barry Everingham, Bill Tuckey and Wanda Kingston and was an attempt to recapture the magic created on air years earlier by Norman Banks, Claudia Wright and Ormsby Wilkins.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has allocated a transmitter licence to ANC International Holdings Pty Ltd to provide a high powered open narrowcasting radio service in Canberra, ACT. The proposed service will operate on 1323 kHz on the AM band.

ANC International Holdings Pty Ltd bid $200,000 at an auction on 8 December 2006 after four applications were received for the licence.

â€˜The people of Canberra can look forward to the introduction of an additional open narrowcasting radio service in the near future,’ said Mr Giles Tanner , General Manager of ACMA’s Inputs to Industry Division.

ANC International Holdings Pty Ltd has paid the full amount owing for the licence after completing a form of acknowledgment which sets out the rights and obligations of the applicant in relation to the licence.

ANC International Holdings Pty Ltd must commence the new service by 21 June 2007, or such longer period of time as approved in writing by ACMA.

This month sees 3AW celebrate 75 years of broadcasting along with 2CH. Former Melbourne station 3DB would have reached the magical 80 year milestone on the 19th of February. Of course the licence of 3DB is still broadcasting today asÂ MIX 101.1 (3TT FM) although it is highly unlikely MIX will acknowledge the event.

From The Age today they report the latest developments surrounding the buyout of APN ( AUSTRALIAN RADIO NETWORK) by Independent News & Media. Full story follows:

VINTAGE director Ted Harris had time for one champagne on Sunday night to celebrate the increased offer he secured for APN News & Media, before hurrying home to watch the cricket.

But APN’s deputy chairman and head of the independent committee assessing the $3.8 billion bid from a consortium led by its major shareholder, Independent News & Media, may have popped the cork too soon.

John Sevior, head of equities at Perpetual Investments, which owns almost 15 per cent of APN, believes the revised $6.10-a-share offer is too low.

“On the basis of what’s out there, I don’t think the independent directors have done a flash job for shareholders,” Mr Sevior told The Age.

“This is a bid for full control of the company and (the consortium) are not paying a price that reflects that, especially given APN’s earnings profile.”

Mr Harris, for his part, believes he has secured a good price. He is quick to point out that before the consortium first approached the company last October, its shares were trading at $5.43.

Twice during the week he rebuffed the consortium, which is made up of Independent, Providence Equity Partners and Carlyle Group, before finally agreeing to recommend an offer of $6.10 a share over the weekend. (He rejected two offers of $6.05 and $6.08 on Tuesday and Wednesday.) After the second rebuff, he says the negotiations, which were being led on the other side by Tony O’Reilly’s son Gavin, almost broke down.

“My principle concern is that shareholders understand, if this offer is not voted by shareholders as acceptable, the price will fall away appreciably,” Mr Harris said yesterday.

Shares in APN closed down 7Â¢ at $5.98 yesterday as investors do believe there is a risk the offer will not pass a shareholder vote.

Under the proposed deal, Independent would reduce its holding in APN from more than 40 per cent to 35 per cent, taking up to $600 million off the table. Providence and Carlyle would own 37.5 per cent and 27.5 per cent respectively. The management team, including chief executive Brendan Hopkins, would be retained. Mr Harris said there had been no discussion of the make-up of the new board.

APN has agreed to pay the consortium a break fee of $27.5 million if it recommends or solicits another offer. But that is unlikely, as Independent has indicated it will not sell its shares into another offer.

APN publishes 24 daily newspapers including The New Zealand Herald and more than 90 non-daily titles.

It also owns 12 metropolitan radio stations in Australia, broadcasting the Mix and Classic Hits networks.

The company, which reports its results next week, said it estimated its 2006 earnings before interest, tax and depreciation would be $348 million, although that figure is unaudited.

This week Sydney’s 2CH will celebrate 75 years of broadcasting. The station which has a long connection to the Council of Churches first went to air in February 1932. The station derived their name from Church (2CH) In 1989 2CH was sold by the Churches to businessman John Singleton who has allowed them to continue to have an imput to the station. 2CH is sister ststion to 2GB

In 2007 2CH is an easy listening format and boasts the legendary Bob Rogers amongst their on air talent. Happy birthday ‘2CH and here is to the next 75 yeears.

The winner of the 2007 Siren Awards for creative excellence in radio advertising will be announced at a gala breakfast in Melbourne on May 4 featuring renowned Australian comedy duo and top-rating radio personalities, Hamish and Andy.

Hamish and Andy, who began their careers on radio in Melbourne at Fox FM, now host a nationally syndicated drive time show on the Today Network. The duo will host the breakfast and also speak at the Sirens Masterclass, a creative seminar directly following the breakfast.

The Masterclass will also feature Dr Rebecca Huntley, a researcher and author with ten years experience in publishing, academia and politics, who recently published a book, The World According to Y: Inside the New Adult Generation. Huntley, who is also the Director of Research and author of the Ipsos Mackay Report, will talk about Generation Y and how to engage them.

Cannes Radio Lions judge for this year and creator of the award-winning Australian radio brand campaign, Ralph van Dijk of Eardrum Australia, will also talk at the Masterclass and run several interactive sessions on how to write world-class radio ads.Â More high-profile speakers will be announced soon.

Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said the annual Sirens breakfast and Masterclass provided a great opportunity to recognise the excellence in Australian radio advertising and also look at ways to further improve it.

As an industry we have tried to be creative in our own advertising campaign â€“ recently launching the latest series of ads which feature one of the worldâ€™s funniest men, John Cleese. It is important to keep looking at radio creative, recognise its strengths and also focus on ways to keep improving it, Ms Warner said.

The winner of the 2007 Siren Awards will be chosen from the winners and highly commended of the five rounds of the Awards and will be judged by the Siren Creative Council - comprising leading creative directors from national advertising agencies. The 2007 winner will be automatically entered into the Cannes Radio Lions â€“ to be held in June and will also win two tickets to attend the festival.

Last yearâ€™s Gold Siren Award winner was an ad for Bic Pens called Chicken Inseminator. TheÂ Â advertisement, written by John Mescall, Rebecca Newman and Malcolm Chambers from Smart advertising agency in Melbourne, used comedy to promote the importance of using a failsafe pen. The same ad also won a Silver Siren for winning the overall single category.

Both the Sirens breakfast and Masterclass will be held at The Point Albert Park in Melbourne. Commercial Radio Australia is running the event in association with the Melbourne Advertising and Design Club (MACD). The breakfast will run from 7.30am to 9.30am and the Masterclass will follow the breakfast and includes lunch. Tickets are on sale now at $395 for the breakfast and Masterclass combined and $60 for breakfast only. An early bird discounted rate of $350 is available for those members of Commercial Radio Australia and MADC who book and pay before Thursday April 5. For a booking form and more information visit the Sirens website.

Australian singer Missy Higgins was discovered through triple j’s unearthed competition and now the youth radio station is looking for unsigned songwriters for a new contest.

The station has launched the Flesh It Out Unsigned Songwriter competition, following triple j’s success at exposing a plethora of talented musicians since the unearthed program began in 1995.

In the past triple j’s unearthed competition has unveiled some of Australia’s greatest solo artists and bands including Grinspoon, the Sick Puppies and Killing Heidi, plus six time ARIA award winner Higgins.

The Flesh It Out competition hopes to uncover some of Australia’s best solo or duo songwriters.

The winner of this latest initiative will be invited to attend a special music event, the Fuse Festival in Adelaide in March, to showcase their skills to industry experts, as well as have their song recorded.

They will also embark on an intimate workshop led by three of Australia’s top songwriters including Rob Hirst and Jim Moginie of legendary Aussie band Midnight Oil.

Aspiring songwriters should upload their chosen piece of music to triplejunearthed.com by midnight February 25.

Nova’s Kate Langbroek gave birth to a healthy baby boy last Saturday. Art Honore Langbroek Lewis weighed in at just over 8lb, with mother and bub doing fine. Former 2DAY FM/ FOX (Judith Lucy show etc) presenter Peter Helliar is now part of the breakfast team sitting along side Dave Huges.

3MP breakfast presenterÂ John BurgessÂ popped up on Channel 7Â presenting the Mid week Tattslotto draw this week. While on the subject of Burgo, it was reported this week that he still has the desire to return to TV to present a game show.

SIRIUS Satellite Radio will work with Frank Sinatra Enterprises to create a new radio channel dedicated to the music, time and spirit of Frank Sinatra.”Siriusly Sinatra”, a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, commercial-free channel, will air recordings covering Sinatraâ€™s entire career, as well as other artists from the big band, swing and traditional pop genres.

In addition to featuring regular segments of Sinatra music, “Siriusly Sinatra” will also feature a weekly show hosted by Nancy Sinatra featuring rare live concert performances and special archived material.

SIRIUS and the Sinatra family will create “The Chairmanâ€™s Hour”, a show hosted by the deceased Sinatra himself - made possible by editing existing recordings of Sinatra’s spoken word and music.

The channel was unveiled today but the satellite radio service did not announced an official launch date.

While alive, Frank Sinatra received 13 GRAMMYÂ® awards and holds the distinction of singing on the first Billboard No. 1 single, â€œIâ€™ll Never Smile Againâ€ from 1940 which sold 900,000 copies.

Sports radio station 1116 SEN today announced respected broadcaster FRANCIS LEACH will return to host the stationâ€™s popular drive program, â€˜The Run Homeâ€™.Â Leach will join former Melbourne champion and football commentator DAVID SCHWARZ from 4-7pm weekdays, commencing MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19. Leach, who was part of the original SEN team in 2004, has almost twenty years experience in radio with various roles at the ABC and more recently Vega. A self-confessed football tragic, Francis has spent a lifetime passionately following local and international sport.

ANTHONY HUDSON who has successfully hosted the program for the past three years, will now focus on heading up SENâ€™s football calling team and assisting the station with development and strategy as it embarkson its AFL match coverage. Barrie Quick, Chief Executive Officer, Radio SEN and 3MP said the station looks forward to Francisâ€™ return.â€œFrancis has always been held in high regard by everyone at 1116 SEN and weâ€™re thrilled to have him back. Francis is an intelligent and instinctive broadcaster and his warm personality will be the perfect complement to David Scwharzâ€™s enthusiastic style. We are excited at the pairing and look forward to seeing their on-air relationship evolve on â€˜The Run Homeâ€™.Leach is delighted at the prospect of returning to SEN and its all-sport format, â€œAs a clinically-diagnosed â€˜footy tragicâ€™, my complete lack of on-field ability means that a professional playing career is out of the question. However, Radio SEN, with its unrivalled commitment to all things sport offers me the next best thing: if I canâ€™tplay footy, at least I can bang on about it every afternoon with one of the gameâ€™s best. Itâ€™s no secret Iâ€™ve admired the work of David Schwarz over the years; and even though I couldnâ€™t match him toe-to-toe on the paddock, the studio is a level playing field!â€

Mr Quick also thanked Anthony Hudson for his work on the program. â€œAnthony has contributed immeasurably to the success of the drive program and the overall station. His extensive media experience and AFL knowledge will be a significant benefit in the execution of the stationâ€™s AFL broadcast strategy. With the addition of Francis to the team, SEN is in a great position to capitalise on our growing success. â€Having secured AFL broadcast rights for the next three years, and as Melbourneâ€™s only 24-hour sports radio station, SEN is enjoying solid revenue growth and a reputation as the most well-credentialed sports station in Melbourne.

Â With an already extensive catalogue of VFL, A-League Soccer, Basketball and Rugby League coverage and some of the countryâ€™s most respected on-air talent, SEN is well placed as it undertakes what will undoubtedly be its most rewarding year to date.

THE NEW RADIO 1116 SEN DAILY LINE-UP:6-9am Morning Glory with TIM WATSON, BILLY BROWNLESS & ANDREW MAHER 9am-12noonHungry for Sport with KEVIN BARTLETT 12-4pm The Good Oil with MARK DORAN 4-7pmThe Run Home with FRANCIS LEACH & DAVID SCHWARZ7-11pm (Mon-Thur) Beva After Dark with BRUCE EVA 11-12 The Day in Sport with MATT THOMPSON 12-6am World Sport Overnight with TONY SCHIBECI

Magic 1278 is now presenting the Classic Top 40 each weeknight between 7.00pm and 10.00pm. Presented by Peter Van (Bill Howie has retired from Magic evenings) it is refreshing to hear the ‘radio hits’ once again.

Francis Leach has returned to 1116 SEN and will co-host drive (The Run Home)Â with David Schwarz. Leach left SENÂ joining Vega FMÂ when theyÂ launched but the love of sport (read AFL) has lured him back.Â

The Australian’s Mark Day gives an honest spin on the details surrounding the sale of Stuart Simson’s five easy listening radio stations. Read the entire story

FORMER Productivity Commissioner Stuart Simson has sold his five regional radio stations ahead of a report from the Australian Communications and Media Authority on the legality of his ownership.Simson’s Elmie Investments purchased the stations in Cairns, Mackay, Bendigo, Mildura and Bunbury in 2005 after Macquarie Regional Radioworks, an arm of Macquarie Bank, bought the regional operations of Bermuda-based billionaire Reg Grundy’s RGC Radio.MRR had earlier bought the regional operations of DMG Radio, and the RGC acquisition meant it was in potential breach of the “two stations to a market” rule in the five markets.

The stations were originally owned by AMI Radio, formerly associated with Griffith radio and TV identity Ray Gamble.

The ACMA inquiry, announced in February last year, was aimed at probing possible breaches of ownership rules relating to the control of the licences.

It is understood Elmie had a $9 million funding arrangement with ANZ, secured by a guarantee from a Macquarie Bank subsidiary.

ACMA’s terms of reference called for an investigation into whether Macquarie Bank or any of its subsidiaries or any other related person or associate was in a position to exercise control of the Elmie licences.

It also asked whether any offences had been committed in relation to the Elmie licences, whether Elmie remained a suitable licensee and what action, if any, should be taken as a result of ACMA’s findings.

It is understood the inquiry, conducted by ACMA staff, was completed late last year and findings unfavourable to Elmie and Macquarie Bank were made in a draft report prepared for ACMA members to consider.

And in what ACMA described as “following the requirements of natural justice”, a copy of the draft report was given to Elmie’s legal representatives.

Reports circulated last week that Mr Simson was endeavouring to sell his stations and although he refused to comment, he did say he had not seen the ACMA report. On Thursday, Prime TV announced it had bought 4EL Cairns and 4AA Mackay for an undisclosed sum.

This purchase is not conditional on media cross-ownership laws changing.

Prime does not broadcast in far north Queensland.

Janet Cameron’s Grant Broadcasters picked up 3CV in central Victoria and 3MA Mildura, to add to her existing Victorian holdings in Ballarat and Geelong.

She now controls 21 licences, making her the third largest regional operator in the nation, after MRR and Bill Caralis’s Superstation network of 32 signals in NSW and Queensland.West Australian Newspapers bought 6EL Bunbury to add to its Red FM and Sprit FM holdings, which broadcast to regional Western Australia.

The sales end Mr Simson’s brief career as a media owner.

A former managing director of The Age and member of the Productivity Commission’s far-sighted 1999 broadcasting review, he resigned as chairman of advertising company Emitch to take on his radio ownership role.

He was bitterly critical of last year’s media reforms, saying their effects fell unfairly on regional radio.

Mr Simson denied the sales were related to the ACMA report.

“It was a commercially sensible thing to do and had nothing to do with ACMA,” he said.

BBC Radio 2 breakfast presenter Sir Terry Wogan has been honoured in his home city of Limerick with a lifetime achievement award from the Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.68 year old Wogan began his career on RTE as well as hosting chat programmes for the BBC, the voice of the Eurovision Song Contest, hosting Children in Need every year, his popular Radio 2 breakfast show and recently receiving aÂ knighthood from the Queen.

ABC radio presenterÂ Virginia Trioli will replace political aspirant Maxine McKew as the Friday night host on ABC TV’s Lateline program. Mckew has joined the Labor party and is expected to be fasttracked into a safe seat prior to the nextÂ federal election.

Southern Cross radioÂ stations 3AW and Magic 1278 are now the official partners of Â The Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday appeal along with Channel 7 Melbourne and The Herald Sun. 3AW and Magic replace Mix 101.1 (born out of 3DB)Â who have had a connection to the traditional Good Friday Appeal dating back to 1942. This years appeal is on April 6.

More than a few raised eyebrowls after a departing regional announcer delivered a verbal spray as to what he thought of the station and company he had been working for! Hope it won’t back fire on him at his new gig. Word is the audio might already be doing the rounds.

Dermott Brereton will be part of 1116 SEN’s AFL coverage when it kicks off this year. Dermie was part of the original on air team when SEN launched on the 19th of January 2004 but quit the station to join Triple M over a pay dispute with the former owners of SEN. He has parted company with Triple M where he also co-hosted Dead Set Legends, a Saturday morning sports show.

Despite an ongoing struggle with a debilitating form of brain cancer, former radio shock-jock Stan Zemanek has not lost his fighting spirit.

Returning to the public forum today with a new series of the TV panel show Beauty And The Beast, Zemanek has vowed to maintain the opinionated outbursts that have punctuated his career and led to the program’s success.

“When we recorded the first show, everyone was on tenterhooks and worried about how the audience would react to me and how I would react to them just tiptoeing around me,'’ Zemanek told The Sunday Telegraph.

“After the first segment, I thought this isn’t right, and so during the second segment I just gave it to them with both barrels and you could see their faces light up. They knew then they could have a go at me and not worry about it.'’

Zemanek was diagnosed and subsequently operated on for an aggressive brain tumour last May.

In December, he ended his radio commitments with 2UE, after 17 years hosting his own nightly program.

At the time, Zemanek said he was hanging up his microphone to concentrate on his health and to spend time with his wife, Marcella, and his family.

While the nightly radio slot proved too difficult during cancer treatment, Zemanek said his return to television had proved the best form of therapy.

“Doing the program has been really good for me,'’ Zemanek said. “The doctor said I could go one of two ways: either I put my feet up for six months and hope to get through it, or to do what I’ve been doing all my life, which is working hard.

“I’m not working the 16 hours a day that I was working before but, by doing the show, I’m concentrating and doing something I love, allowing me to forget about everything else.

“I forget about questioning whether I’ll live tomorrow and die the next day.'’

Despite their often volatile on-screen relationship, Zemanek’s Beauty And The Beast colleagues, Jeanne Little and Prue MacSween, welcomed his return.

Like their sister stations across the country, in Perth and Qld,Â 1071 (the former 3CV) and 1467 (once the frequency of 3MA)Â have been sold by Elmie Investments Pty Ltd. The Victorian licences have been bought by Grant Broadcasters. This deal will see Grant’s coverage across regional Victoria increase with a foothold via 1071 into the Bendigo market. The Mildura station known as 3ML has enormous potential for Grant’s regional activities.

ABC 774 breakfast presenter Red Symons will be a judge on the new Seven network program ‘Australia’s Got Talent’. Red is no stranger to being a judge on a talent show having cut the mustard on long running Hey Hey It’s Saturday segment Red Faces.

Red said today â€˜It will be a refreshing change to do a talent show that is genuinely looking for excellence, rather than enduring a group of guys who are on a dare from their mates at the pub!â€™â€˜Itâ€™s not like I havenâ€™t done this sort of thing before. Itâ€™s just like falling off a horse, shooting it and turning it into glueâ€™

Australiaâ€™s Got Talent will search for the freshest undiscovered talent in the country and will be hosted by Grant Denyer.

You may not think being host of a Polka music show on Radio is that important, but, sometimes, people just deserve a little credit. From playfuls.com: “Bronislaw Hudela, host of a weekly New York-area radio program since 1948, has died at 88 after an illness, his family said. Hudela had hosted ‘Polkatime Sunday’ on radio station WKNY-AM in Kingston, N.Y., since April 1948, The (Kingston) Daily Freeman reported Tuesday… His lively program, in which he read all the commercials himself, is believed to be one of the longest-running programs with the same host in U.S. radio history…”

Prime Television has bought two new radio stations in Cairns and MackayÂ fromÂ Elmie Investments Pty Ltd. Prime chief executive Warwick Syphers said the acquisition of the twoÂ Easy Listening stations - 4EL AM846 in Cairns, and 4AA Radio Ten26 in Mackay - was part of a long term strategy to develop the broadcaster’s regional business in high growth markets.

One of the world's funniest men, John Cleese, has recorded a series of radio ads for the Australian industry as part of its ongoing brand campaign, which will go to air nationally next week.

The first of the ads, called ''Celebrity'' features Cleese and Australian comedian, Mark Mitchell discussing why there is no need to use celebrities in radio advertising. The use of humor is an ongoing feature of the radio campaign as is the overall message, which highlights the cost effectiveness of using radio, and audience reach.

The advertisements follow a viral campaign released earlier this week on the internet to radio stations, advertising agencies, advertisers and media companies, which promote the Cleese ads through a game featuring the comedian.

Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner said the viral campaign aimed to create awareness and excitement about the ads and was also a fun way to help promote the new campaign and radio generally.

''It is very exciting for the radio industry that John Cheese agreed to do these ads for us while he was here last year as guest speaker at our conference and Awards. His enthusiasm for Australian radio was immense and he was keen to be involved in these ads,'' Ms Warner said.

The radio ads are the latest in a series of well-known commercials Mr Cleese has undertaken including ads for Sony, Callard and Bowser and Schweppes.

Hinch radio programÂ sports commentator Jim Wilson will soon join Channel 7 Brisbane in a part time capacity. Wilson quit 7 after the 2004 Athens Olympic Games after being dumped from being the main sports anchor on 7 nightly news Melbourne. Wilson is now based in Brisbane.

The ABC’s chief said the public broadcaster had not identified a new Brisbane headquarters before a report into breast cancer was released.

Union officials meanwhile remain concerned Brisbane journalists and producers will continue working out of different locations under difficult conditions.

ABC staff abandoned the ageing site at Toowong, in the city’s inner-west, shortly before Christmas last year after an independent panel of experts headed by Professor Bruce Armstrong found the breast cancer rate there was up to 11 times higher than among the general working community.

Twelve women who worked at the riverside Toowong office have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the past 11 years, including eight who work in the newsroom.

ABC television staff returned to work on Dec 27 at a temporary studio based at the Network Ten premises at Mount Coot-tha while radio staff have begun broadcasting from a specially fitted out van in a Toowong carpark.

ABC managing director Mark Scott defended the response to the cancer cluster and said the organisation had to move swiftly once the cluster was confirmed by Prof Armstrong.

But he admitted the ABC had not had a new building in mind when the report came out.

“If you’re asking me whether in fact we took out a long-term lease in the prospect that this Armstrong report would find what it found, no we didn’t,” Mr Scott told ABC Radio.

“But did we make contingency planning so that we would continue to remain on air and provide local broadcasting and services to the people of Brisbane? Yes we did.”

The ABC would also be moving rapidly to set up its new building, once a suitable site was found.

“We are confident that when we find the right new location for us, that we will be able to fast-track that,” Mr Scott said.

Other ABC sites around the country are also set to be examined with Prof Armstrong to advise if there are any health concerns.

But Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance assistant federal secretary Mark Ryan said a site had to be found as a matter of urgency, despite the tight Brisbane commercial real estate market.

“They need to find sooner, rather than later, a site where they can actually perform their work properly,” Mr Ryan said.

“As far as we are concerned, the current situation cannot continue for any period of time.

“It is just unsustainable from a professional level and a workplace level.”

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that the licensee of 2GB Sydney, Harbour Radio Pty Ltd, breached the Commercial Radio Code of Practice by broadcasting material that was likely to vilify people of Lebanese background on the basis of ethnicity.

The breach arose from material included in The Open-Line Show hosted by 2GB presenter, Mr Brian Wilshire, broadcast on 15 December 2005. While ACMA found the material was presented for a purpose in the public interest, being discussion of factors contributing to unrest in southern Sydney, ACMA was not persuaded that the comments were presented reasonably and in good faith for this purpose.

ACMA found 2GB breached clause 1.3(e) of the code. Under this clause, a licensee must not broadcast a program which is likely to incite or perpetuate hatred against or vilify any person or group on the basis of a number of attributes, including ethnicity.

The licensee advised ACMA that it took immediate action after the broadcast. An apology was aired on the day following the broadcast on the Channel 10 news and on 2GB.

The licensee has also advised that during compliance training, which followed the broadcast, all presenters and production staff were briefed 'about the importance of ensuring that in discussing current affairs, criticisms of particular types of conduct is reasonable, but criticisms that are based on persons having any of the attributes listed in code 1.3(e) are not".

ACMA notes the licensee's prompt and prominent public apology and its re-emphasis on compliance training in this case. As such, ACMA considers these actions are a reasonable response to the circumstances identified in the investigation. ACMA will closely monitor the licensee's ongoing performance against this provision of the code.

Mike Brady and Geoff Cox spent many a night together playing in their band Cox, Brady and the Occasional Lady. Nowadays they go head to head on Melbourne radio each Saturday night. For the last few years Coxy (who was famous for playing at the Roxy) has presented Jukebox on 3MP while Mike Brady is the summer host of Saturday nights on 3AW with a talk based program called Mike to Midnight.

Chris Holland is the new breakfast jock at Classic Rock 1O2.5 with a starting date of early Feb. Matt Conlon has now departed the station andÂ in the interim Andy Ingram will cover breakfast.Â Chris comes to Classic Rock from Power FM Bega.

The greater percentage ofÂ the Caralis owned Supernetwork stations have returned to broadcasting the John Laws morning prgram from today. Most will broacast Laws from 9.00am until 11.00am with Leon Delaney being aired from 11.00am until Noon.

With regular 3AWÂ weekendÂ overnight presenter Alan Pearsal currently filling in for the holidaying Keith McGowan weekends are being covered by Nightline producer Simon Owens. Simon connects to the audience, delivering a warm light hearted program. His passion for the medium shines through, something that is missing in many areas of radio in this day and age.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has asked 2HHH FM Ltd, licensee of the community radio service 2HHH in Hornsby, Sydney, to provide a revised policy and procedure for internal conflict resolution that meets the purpose and intent of clause 6.2 of the Community Broadcasting Codes of Practice 2002.

The licensee has been asked to provide the document to ACMA by 2 April 2007.

ACMAâ€™s action follows a finding that 2HHH had breached the code by not having in place a written policy and procedure that outlined mechanisms to facilitate internal conflict resolution. ACMA also found that 2HHH had breached the code by not responding to a complainantâ€™s letter within 60 days of receipt.

As this is the first complaint ACMA has received about 2HHHâ€™s internal conflict resolution and its handling of complaints, ACMA has decided to take no further action at this stage.

ACMA will continue to monitor 2HHHâ€™s performance in relation to complaints handling.

A conglomerate that includes the Irish-owned Independent News and Media (INM) has revived a bid for APN News & Media.

INM already owns a 40 per cent stake in APN and had previously made a bid to buy out the media network, which owns several newspapers and radio stations throughout the Australasian region.

It has now teamed up with private equity firms Providence Equity and The Carlyle Group to offer A$6.05 (Â£2.39) per APN share. The previous bid by INM and Providence Equity, which was rejected by the company, is said to have been valued at A$6.02 (Â£2.38) per share.

APN shares closed on the market at A$6.15 (Â£2.43) a share yesterday.

Commenting on the bid, APN sub-committee chairman Ted Harris said: “The proposal will now be considered by the committee, which will decide whether it is in the best interests of all shareholders, and make a recommendation as quickly as possible.”

If the bid is accepted, the buyout will increase INM’s media reach throughout the Australasian region. APN runs 23 daily and over 100 other publications in Australia and New Zealand. Its radio network includes 12 Australian radio stations and 120 radio stations in New Zealand.

A 19-year-old man has appeared in a Brisbane court charged with the murder and robbery of Brian Heathcote at Nundah on the weekend.

Brian Heathcote, 40, was bashed to death on a Nundah street around 1.30am AEST on Sunday.

He was walking home after leaving a nearby hotel when the alleged attack occurred. His body was discovered on the footpath by two people who were driving by. Police have charged 19-year-old Tyson Alfred Barden with Mr Heathcote’s murder, and also with robbery with violence.

At a brief appearance in the Brisbane Magistrates Court, Barden did not apply for bail and the matter was set for mention in March. Police are still questioning an 18-year-old woman over Mr Heathcote’s death.

Brian was well known to listeners of instore retail radio (Kmart Supa Cheap Auto etc) as well as an in demand voice over man. Vale Brian Heathcote.

Matthew Newton has been sacked from his new radio role as his famous parents vow to stand by him over charges he assaulted actor Brooke Satchwell.

Just hours after Newton’s new girlfriend Gracie Otto, 19, the daughter of legendary performer Barry Otto, drove him from her family’s Lewisham home in Sydney’s inner west, Newton announced Nova radio station had released him from his contract, reportedly worth up to $200,000 a year.

“Over the last two days I have become the subject of intense media and public interest. As the matter of interest relates to a court case, I am not able to freely and openly discuss it,” Newton said in a statement.

“As such, my ability to perform my role as an on-air announcer is greatly limited. Nova and I agree the appropriate course is for them to release me from contractual obligations.

“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Nova for the support and understanding they have shown in releasing me from my contract.”

Nova had signed on Newtown to co-host the Matt and Akmal Show with comedian Akmal Saleh in their prime time drive shift on Friday.

The station suspended his involvement in the broadcasts, which were due to begin yesterday, after allegations were made public at the weekend that Newton had assaulted Satchwell in September and October last year.

News of the sacking came as a resident of the street where Newton lived with Satchwell revealed details of several late night screaming sessions. Describing Newton’s behaviour as “atrocious,” the resident told how he helped Satchwell move out of the former couple’s Rozelle home.

The Oxford St resident, who refused to give his name, said he had heard Newton screaming abuse on several occasions before Satchwell, who was well liked in the street, moved out.

“She has always been very polite and extremely friendly,” he said.

“Generally speaking he was just a bad neighbour. It would be screaming at night.”

Meanwhile Bert Newton’s agent and friend Glenn Wheatley described the Newton family as extremely close and said Matthew’s parents were standing by their son.

Mr Wheatley, who has spoken with Bert Newton since news of the assault charges became public on the weekend, said he believed Bert and Patti may have previously been aware of the charges.

“How much they knew before hand, I’m not sure … my feeling is it’s come as a bit of a shock,” Mr Wheatley said.

“They are very positive under the circumstances … the family is very, close knit and they are going to be absolutely together for him (Matthew).

“Bert has asked that I explain to everybody that, because it’s a family matter, they are not going to be making a comment at the moment.”

Mr Wheatley said a recording and singing career he was developing with Matthew Newton would go ahead.

“He is an extremely talented singer, he is a very gifted performer,” he said.

Newton is due to appear at Balmain Local Court today.

He faces four charges, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He has pleaded not guilty.

DMG Radio Australia’s slow birth of its Vega FM brand continues with the launch of another outdoor campaign in Sydney and Melbourne.

Sydney’s Vega 95.3FM and Melbourne’s Vega 91.5FM are now being promoted with the campaign line “Vega variety 70s, 80s and the best new songs”.It is the first push in what is expected to be an intense rush of marketing for Australia’s FM stations in the first months of 2007.

Austereo’s youth stations, primarily 2DAY and Fox, gained a march on their competitors in early 2006 with expensive early campaigns. The network held and consolidated its FM ratings lead after that bright start.

For DMG’s baby-boomer stations, the story is a little different, with both stations still struggling for recognition after high-profile launches in 2005. Both Vegas remained beside Triple J at the bottom of the ratings table, although the last survey of 2006 showed small signs of growth and encouraging cumulative audiences.

“The next step in our marketing campaign, the most recent of which was communicating the message of ‘Vega variety’, is taking that one step further and further describing the playlist,” said Jane Earnshaw, promotions and marketing director for Vega 95.3FM and Vega 91.5FM.

“It’s not a tinkering as such; it’s looking at the playlist now and what listeners are saying they want from it.”

The campaign, designed in-house, will feature on billboards in both cities and bus advertising in Sydney.

DMG’s $160 million gamble on the new network hasn’t replicated the success of its stablemate Nova. After launching with big personalities, including Wendy Harmer, Tony Squires and ABC recruit Angela Catterns, the Vega stations have pared back the talk content in favour of music.

“It’s no secret that initially the (marketing) concept was too complex, which was surprising for everybody because it was so well researched,” Ms Earnshaw admitted.

“It’s always hard when researching a new station because you’re asking about the incumbents and what they don’t like about them and also asking about something that doesn’t exist yet. But the (audience) behaviour just didn’t match the insights.”

A 28-year-old woman has died of water intoxication after taking part in a Californian radio station’s water drinking contest.She was in the “Hold Your Wee for a Wii” competition trying to win a Nintendo Wii video game system.

Assistant Sacramento County Coroner Ed Smith said today a preliminary investigation found evidence “consistent with a water intoxication death”.Jennifer Strange’s mother found her daughter’s body at her home yesterday in the Sacramento suburb of Rancho Cordova, California, after Strange called her supervisor at her job to say she was heading home in terrible pain.

“She said to one of our supervisors that she was on her way home and her head was hurting her real bad,” said Laura Rios, one of Strange’s co-workers at Radiological Associates of Sacramento.

“She was crying and that was the last that anyone had heard from her.”

Earlier yesterday Strange took part in a contest at radio station KDND 107.9 in which participants competed to see how much water they could drink without going to the toilet.

Initially, contestants were handed 220mL bottles of water to drink every 15 minutes.

“They were small little half-pint bottles, so we thought it was going to be easy,” said fellow contestant James Year of Woodland, California.

“They told us if you don’t feel like you can do this, don’t put your health at risk.”

Ybarra said he quit after drinking five bottles.

“My bladder couldn’t handle it anymore,” he added.

After he quit, he said, the remaining contestants, including Strange, were given even bigger bottles to drink.

“I was talking to her and she was a nice lady,” Ybarra said. “She was telling me about her family and her three kids and how she was doing it for kids.”

John Geary, vice president and marketing manager for Entercom Sacramento, the station’s owner, said station personnel were stunned when they heard of Strange’s death.

“We are awaiting information that will help explain how this tragic event occurred,” he said.

Matthew Newton has been dropped from the Nova drive program prior to even starting on air. Well they say a week is a longtime in radio but this one takes the cake! In light of the current controversy surrounding Matthew Newton and a domestic relationship charge over his head Nova GM Sam Thompson today has suspended Newton’s debut as co-host of drive.

As mentioned here first late last week Matthew Newton has joined Nova to present drive in Melbourne and Sydney. Hot on the heels of this announcement comes the news that Newton has been charged in regards to a domestic incident with former longtime girlfriend Brooke Satchwell. The headlines in todays press ran with the following quote.

Longtime producer of the 6PR morning program Simon Beaumont has taken over presenting. Simon who more recently was producing the program for Bob Maumill takes over from Monday morning. The show will now go head to head with the ABC moving back to its original 8.30am start time.

Early this week, (01/09), Howard Stern marked his first year on SIRIUS Satellite Radio. And even though he is still bringing his show to a substantially smaller audience than he had on terrestrial radio, Sternâ€™s magnetism has attracted enough new subscribers to SIRIUS to have earned him $83 million dollars from a stock bonus.

SIRIUS recently reported over 6 million subscribers for its service, putting it in a position to breathe squarely down XM’s neck - which just announced it has 7.5 million subscribers. Considering this gap has substantially narrowed and quickly, Stern has to be considered part of the reason. SIRIUS had 3 million subscribers in December, 2005 and only 1 million in December, 2004. Think what you may about Stern â€“ he has always had admirers and detractors â€“ but, his move to SIRIUS has proven that he can multitask: do his own F.C.C.-less show and program two channels busting over with Stern-approved talent.

“It’s been a great year and the show is better than ever,” said Stern.

“We’ve delivered on the promise of satellite radio; I can do whatever I want and say whatever I want.”Having two dedicated Howard Stern channels makes it possible for SIRIUS to replay The Howard Stern Show all day and night, allowing fans to listen to the show any time. Howard 100 and Howard 101 feature original shows such as The Wrap Up Show, a daily recap of that morningâ€™s Howard Stern Show hosted by producer Gary Dellâ€™Abate and Jon Hein; The Bubba the Love Sponge Show, a controversial and funny afternoon talk show; The Scott Ferrall Show, a nightly talk show hosted by veteran sports radio personality Scott Ferrall; Jackieâ€™s Joke Hunt, a weekly comedy program hosted by former longtime Stern show member Jackie â€œThe Joke Manâ€ Martling; The Riley Martin Show, a weekly show about Martinâ€™s alien experience; Superfan Roundtable, a weekly show featuring Stern â€œsuperfansâ€ and appearances by the Wack Pack, and The Intern Show, on which the college-age interns reveal the behind the scenes details of working on The Howard Stern Show.

At SIRIUS, Stern even has his own news department, the “Howard 100 News Team” which reports on all things “Howard” all-the-time. You might think this is the epitome of ego-driven programming but for Stern fans, it is real news by a news department which does a very professional job - though, often with tongues in cheek.

In addition to The Howard Stern Show, Stern has created original programming for his two channels over the last year, such as The Bitter Half, a radio drama about Stern show wives and girlfriends, written and produced by Sam Simon, one of the original developers of The Simpsons.

Howard Stern and his channels were a hefty financial investment for SIRIUS â€“ beginning with the highly reported $500 million dollar/5-year deal for his services. With the additional $83 million he earned this week one thing is clear: the King of All Media has also proven himself to be a Jack of All Trades when it comes to content and programming.

Metropolitan commercial radio stations generated advertising revenue of $599.6 million in calendar year 2006, according to figures released today by peak industry body Commercial Radio Australia.Â The result was a 1.4 per cent increase compared with the $591.4 million generated in the 2005 calendar year.

â€œWhile there was good growth in Perth and Brisbane, the overall result was weighed down by the Sydney market, which continues to be adversely affected by the weaker New South Wales economy,â€ said chief executive officer Joan Warner.

Perth was the strongest market in 2006, up nearly 7 per cent in the 12 months ending December to $65 million, followed by Brisbane, which grew by 6 per cent to $91.8 million.Â Sydney stations attracted revenue of $216.0 million in 2006, a 5 per cent decline over 2005, while Melbourne was up 5 per cent to $170.2 million and Adelaide was up 6 per cent to $56.6 million.Â The data is compiled by PricewaterhouseCoopers for the five major capital city markets.

Sydney was the only market to decline in the six months ending December 2006, with Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane showing solid growth.

â€œThe industry is also hopeful of securing a significant share of political advertising in 2007 with a state election slated for NSW, and a Federal Election likely before the end of the year,â€ she added.

Despite competition from newer entertainment choices, commercial radio continued to attract loyal audiences in 2006, with over 8.6 million Australians tuning in in metropolitan areas, representing an audience reach of 77 percent.Â The average time spent listening to commercial radio was 17 hours and 57 minutes each week, or two hours and 33 minutes per day.

Former long time 3mp presenter Steve Curtis has moved to Magic 1278. A 36 year veteran in the Radio and Television industry Curtis pulled the pin on MP in November only day’s before the PD and long time Curtis friend Peter Butler also quit.They were quickly followed by MP music director Peter Tarnawski who is now working overseas.